President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to wearing a face mask optional, according to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.
At the Laging Handa public briefing, Concepcion said they had a meeting recently with Marcos, and they discussed the issue of the face mask.
According to Concepcion, Marcos is open to the idea but thinks local government units (LGUs) should decide to wear a face mask.
“And I think in the next administration, pag-usapan natin. At noong nag-meeting kami ni President-elect BBM, he is open to the idea naman. Ang tingin ko naman dito, on outdoor settings, palagay ko let’s allow the LGUs to decide whether face mask is required,” said Concepcion.
(And I think in the next administration, we will talk about it. And when we met with President-elect BBM, he was open to the idea. So I think here, in outdoor settings, I think let’s allow the LGUs to decide whether a face mask is required.)
In Concepcion’s view, wearing a face mask outside should be encouraged and not mandatory.
“In my own judgment, face mask outdoor should be encouraged but not mandated,” said Concepcion.
President-elect Marcos open to optional face mask – Concepcion
Concepcion also added that since the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte “mandated” the wearing of a face mask outside, it should be followed and respected.
“Well, since the Duterte Administration has mandated the wearing of face masks in outdoor, dapat sundin natin. At bigyan natin ng respeto na itong panukala nila na until this administration ends – and it’s going to end at the end of this month – let’s respect the rules,” said Concepcion.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia earlier issued Executive Order No. 16, which stipulated that wearing face masks should only be necessary for enclosed and air-conditioned venues, this occurred after the Cebu Provincial Board enacted the ordinance on the third and final reading in a special session.
However, the national government does not recognize Garcia’s executive decision allowing the optional use of face masks in well-ventilated and open locations in the province, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
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