Cebu face masks row settled

CEBU – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that Gov. Gwen Garcia has agreed to a compromise regarding a provincial ordinance that allows optional us of face masks in open spaces.

Año said he spoke with Garcia and they have agreed to end the face-off on the enforcement of the mask mandate.

“They are currently crafting an IRR (implementing rules and regulations) there to rationalize the wearing of a face mask and we will wait for the result of the IRR before we give further guidance. They will also craft how to enforce the ordinance rationalizing the wearing of face masks. So they will wait for that,” he said.

The Provincial Board, presided by Vice Governor Hilario Davide III, has passed and approved a law that rationalizes the wearing of face masks within Cebu. The ordinance, authored by Board member John Ismael Borgonia, is has been certified by Garcia as urgent and shall be applicable to all individuals, residents and non-residents within the province. 

The ordinance makes it optional for people to wear masks in well-ventilated and open spaces and it is no longer an offense not to wear face masks outdoor. “People would go out sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka balay, dili na sila mahadlok nga posible nga dakpon sila sa law enforcers kay naa na man ni nga ordinance nga atong gipalabang,” Borgonia said. 

Cebuanos also hailed the law and Garcia and are strongly supporting them. The ordinance ratifies Garcia’s Executive Order No. 16 issued on June 8 which makes the wearing of face masks no longer made mandatory, but only optional in well-ventilated and open spaces. 

Año previously said the ordinance passed by the Cebu provincial board cannot supersede (former President Rodrigo Duterte’s) Executive Order 151 which mandates the use of face masks all over the country except in allowable circumstances. He emphasized that the country is still under a state of public health emergency and a state of calamity until September 12, 2022.

Año said the Philippine National Police will strictly enforce the mandatory face mask rule imposed by the President in Cebu and that all police officers who refuse to follow orders from higher authorities will be relieved of duty.

Garcia argued earlier that the resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases are merely recommendatory in nature. She said authorities cannot simply arrest any violator on the street and send him to a jail that is already crammed, potentially increasing Covid-19 infections.

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing previously said that they are looking at issuing a show-cause order against Garcia for insisting on her executive order. 

But Garcia said: “I would rather answer to the 1.4 million Cebuanos that have given me a resounding vote of trust and confidence. If in the end, as what media would wish to project, I hope that is not what Usec Densing wants to say, they would issue a show-cause order, that’s a small price to pay for living up and owning up to my responsibility in taking care of 1.4 million Cebuanos.”

Garcia also released Memorandum Number 13 reminding local mayors and those in authority to never impose policies that are discriminatory against those who choose not to receive anti-Covid 19 jabs. 

She said the memorandum protects the rights of unvaccinated individuals whose vaccination status could jeopardize their employment security, or school and other government transactions. It, moreover, specifically forbids officials of the Department of Education from discriminating against unvaccinated teachers, parents, and students. 

Ordinance

Under Section 3 of the ordinance, the following guidelines have to be properly observed: 

a. Wearing of face masks in air-conditioned/closed spaces. The wearing of face masks shall be required in closed and/or air-conditioned spaces. 

b. Wearing of face masks in well-ventilated/open spaces. The use of face masks shall be optional in well-ventilated and open spaces. However, persons are still highly encouraged to continue to wear their masks especially in crowded outdoor areas. 

c. Wearing of face masks for persons with Covid-19 symptoms. Persons who are unwell with symptoms of the Covid-19 such as fever, cough, runny nose, are required to wear a mask at all times if they need to leave their homes. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)