Gwen to give away free face masks

DESCRIBING THE imposition of fines on people caught not wearing face masks in public places as “anti-poor and oppressive,” Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the Provincial Government will instead give face masks to those who will be caught not wearing one, instead of penalizing them.

Capitol will distribute face masks to all police stations in the 44 municipalities and six cities, as well as to the Police Regional Office which they can use to give away to protocol violators.

 

This, after the governor clarified that her order to abolish the fine on the non-wearing of face masks in public does not mean she is telling people not to wear one.

 

Garcia believes the mask-wearing mandate has become “irrational and illogical,” saying the penalty only affects commoners and bikers on the streets and public places and not those hidden behind tinted windows of air-conditioned cars.

 

She also said the policy can lead to corruption. “Di ko moingon tanan pero naa diay nay klarong resibo? Unya kung ang fine P300 unya pangayuan og P500. Naay resibo ana? Is there proper accounting for these fines? How would you know? Nga nay police nga gidakop og lima pero tulo ray gitug-an. It leads to corruption that further oppresses the people. It is oppression,” she said.

 

Garcia earlier said she would issue a memorandum directing all mayors and police chiefs to abolish the imposition of fines for non-wearing of face masks. She lauded the regional police for initiating a move to provide free face masks to the public.

The governor also said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has committed to give the povince three million face masks. “When they (policemen) see people not wearing a mask, they can approach them and give them one,” she said, explaining further that this new directive is meant to rationalize the mask-wearing policy, as one of the protective measures against Covid-19.

 

“I don’t just blindly follow policies. I make policies based on thorough analysis of data. My decisions have always been data-driven,” she said, adding, paying fines for non-wearing of face masks is an additional burden to most people, especially those who are struggling financially.

 

Garcia said she is aware that many would oppose her decision to abolish the fines, but she clarified that wearing of face masks is still required and it is highly recommended in enclosed areas. “This is not about telling people not to wear masks,” she said.

 

She also instructed the police to deal humanely with violators of quarantine protocols, particularly those not wearing masks. “I don’t want any maltreatment and abuse for the Cebuanos,” she said. “They can be reminded to wear a mask, admonished to wear a mask, but never should they be mistreated. We are kinder to criminals than violators of this so-called mask-wearing thing. Let’s deal with the real criminals, not violators of some illogical imposition.” (Carlo Lorenciana)

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