The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) wants to maintain the mandatory wearing of face masks in public even if it deescalates some areas to the looser “Alert Level zero” with the continuing decline in COVID-19 cases.
This was shared by MMDA general manager Frisco San Juan Jr., Tuesday, in a state media interview at the Laging Handa briefing.
“Gusto lang po naming patuloy pa ring magsuot ng face masks hanggang masabi na po natin na talagang hindi na po tayo matatamaan ng COVID-19, lalung-lalo na ngayong bukas na po ang ating mga airport sa mga ibang bansa na nais dumalaw,” said San Juan.
“Sa amin po, kung anong irerekomenda ng ating [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases]. Ang aming sentimyento ay hangga’t maaari, hindi po namin maaaring i-impose [ang mandatory face mask sa Alert Level 1] kung hindi ito i-iimpose ng IATF.”
It was only on March 10 when Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the government was studying the implementation of an alert level system that is even more relaxed than Alert Level 1 so far, especially as the number of cases of the deadly COVID- 19.
Duque still needs to clarify whether certain minimum public health standards, such as wearing face masks, can be removed when any country is placed on Alert Level 0.
MMDA wants to keep ‘mandatory face mask’ even if Alert Level 0 is imposed
San Juan had earlier said that the mayors of the National Capital Region are ready to implement it. Despite this, the increase in COVID-19 cases is still a significant concern.
“Wala po namang nagsabi [sa 17 Metro Manila mayors] ng kanilang oposisyon. Ang napag-usapan pa lang po ay handa silang lahat [sa Alert Level 1],” said San Juan.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar stated that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases had placed the National Capital Region and 47 additional locations under Alert Level 1 from March 16 to March 31.
More than 64 million Filipinos have been fully immunized against COVID-19.
Over 10 million people have now had their booster doses.
By the end of March, the government hopes to have vaccinated 77 million people.
Despite the commencement of the Eleksyon 2022 campaign period on February 8, the Department of Health has failed to announce a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
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