Año voids Garcia’s mask-off EO
The governor defended her order as one that eases the burden on her pandemic-fatigued constituents, adding there’s nothing there that totally scraps the wearing of masks.
Not so fast for residents in and out of Metro Manila who may want their respective mayors or governors to issue an order similar to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s edict limiting the use of masks in the province to indoor spaces only.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday warned that President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for all Filipinos nationwide to continue wearing masks in public to stem the spread of Covid-19 remains in effect.
Año made the statement in Manila as he voided Executive Order (EO) 16 issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last 8 June making “optional” the wearing of masks in well-ventilated and open spaces in the province.
He warned that members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), an agency under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), would continue accosting or apprehending protocol violators even in Cebu.
In reaction, Garcia defended her order as one that eases the burden on her pandemic-fatigued constituents. She added there’s nothing in her EO that totally scraps the wearing of masks.
Garcia said that masks are still required in closed and air-conditioned spaces, but optional in well-ventilated and open spaces.
“We are not saying do not use face masks. It’s your choice. Those that would wish to breathe in pure oxygen, the more beneficial sea air, then please, let’s not bring the wearing of masks to ridiculous levels,” she said.
She urged members of the provincial police not to arrest anyone found not wearing a mask, but to give him or her a mask for “humanitarian reasons.”
Two big cities in Metro Cebu, however, said they will abide by the order of the national government. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama maintained that the city and Cebu province have different situations.
“No, we have a different geographic situation here in Cebu City. Number 2 we should look at it what we call ‘point of assembly’. The city is a convergence (area),” he said.
Mandaue City residents were also told by their Mayor Jonas Cortes to continue wearing masks.
Año stressed that current Covid-19 protocols allow specific instances when masks can be taken off in public, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and other activities.
Año emphasized that adherence to minimum public health standards is key to the country beating the Covid pandemic, along with vaccination against the virus that has already killed millions of people around the world.
He said that the Philippines has kept low Covid-19 case counts despite the detection of new virus variants and sub-variants precisely because of the protocols that had been put in place by the national government.
Scientific studies have shown that the use of masks reduces the transmission of Covid and other diseases, the DILG secretary said, adding Covid remains a serious threat to all.
In issuing the EO, Garcia said countries like Singapore have already made optional the wearing of masks outdoors due to the easing of Covid transmission globally.
Health protocol violations in Metro Manila increased in the first quarter of 2022, with 4,209 people arrested from 28 February to 1 March representing a 13.36 percent increase compared to the previous week, according to data from the National Capital Region Police Office.
The figures correspond to the time frame when the capital region shifted to the more lenient Alert Level 1.
At the time, the PNP received reports that some local government units were yet to release new executive orders on adjusted protocol guidelines.
Garcia maintained that the direct national supervision and control of the health secretary during the Covid-19 should only last for a period of six months. She invoked local autonomy under the Local Government Code.
Also on Friday, the Department of Health reminded the public that wearing masks in outdoor spaces is still mandatory.
In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the public should continue wearing masks even in outdoor spaces to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“This is just a small sacrifice to protect our community. Please do not oppose it. We will ease the restrictions gradually, we will eventually reach the new normal that we wanted,” Vergeire said.
She stressed that based on the current resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), the public and private sectors, including local governments, should comply with the task force’s health protocols.
The official also noted that based on the Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, the national government has the authority to issue protocols when the country is under a public health emergency.
In a separate message, the health department reiterated that minimum public health standards including wearing the best fitting face mask, together with vaccination and boosters have helped keep the country’s Covid-19 case counts low.
“The Covid-19 virus is still present and the pandemic is not yet over. Individuals can still catch the virus, most especially for our vulnerable population,” it added.
“This is just a small sacrifice to protect our community. Please do not oppose it. We will ease the restrictions gradually, we will eventually reach the new normal that we wanted. ”