The Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recommended that the wearing of face masks outside the house or in open spaces, be made voluntary and no longer mandatory, according to Malacañang this Wednesday.
In a press release, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that the IATF recommends that the public decide whether they want to wear face masks in open spaces or unpopulated places with proper ventilation.
“Doon sa IATF, ang kanilang rekomendasyon ay pag-liberalize ng ating mask wearing mandate and make mask wearing outdoors voluntary across the country,” said Angeles.
(At the IATF, they recommend liberalizing our mask-wearing mandate and making mask-wearing outdoors voluntary across the country.)
The IATF met again this Monday to discuss the policy recommendations regarding the face mask that will be presented to the President’s office.
The meeting was held after the Cebu City government implemented an Executive Order making wearing face masks voluntary in open areas in the city.
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is aware of the IATF’s recommendation.
IATF recommends voluntary wearing of face masks – Palace
“There is a verbal approval from the President when they talk to Secretary Benhur from DILG,” Vergeire said regarding Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Although Vergeire expects Marcos to soon issue an executive order on this, he could not say when.
“Everything is being prepared. Nakipag-usap na rin naman po tayo. We’ll just wait for the issuance. But definitely, and we think based from the feedback, talagang pabor naman ang Presidente, so the executive order can be issued immediately,” the official added.
Last month, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama signed an executive order that removes the mandatory face mask policy in outdoor and open spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on Executive Order No. 5, stated that the use and wearing of face masks in Cebu City has been declared “non-obligatory.”
Instead, using a face mask is up to the person as “self preservation and protection under the principle of shared responsibility and mutual respect.”
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