Will Cebu be pilot area for voluntary use of face masks?

CEBU CITY – Cebuanos may choose not to wear facemasks outdoors following an executive order released by Mayor Mike Rama making it a voluntary act, except in hospitals, clinics and medical facilities.

However, immunocompromised people and those who are sick or who have flu-like symptoms are still required to wear face masks outdoors, but are directed to stay home if they can.

Rama said his order was the result of multi-sectoral consultation with stakeholders here, adding that wearing face masks will not be obligatory but is a measure of individual self-preservation and protection. 

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr said he will discuss the issue with the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19. “Notwithstanding, I remain firm and steadfast in my commitment to raise this issue to the IATF and make Cebu City a pilot city that will help assess the lifting of masking protocols in outdoor areas and wide open spaces,” he said. 

“Ang DILG ay mananatiling kaisa ng bawat sektor, lalung-lalo na ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa bansa, sa pagprotekta sa kalusugan ng mamamayan at masiguro ang ating unti-unting pagbangon mula sa pandemyang dulot ng Covid-19,” he added.

Just this year, provincial lawmakers backed Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s executive order making the use of face masks optional in well ventilated and open spaces in Cebu province.

The Provincial Board, presided by Vice Governor Hilario Davide III, also passed and approved a law that rationalizes the wearing of face masks within Cebu. The ordinance, authored by Board member John Ismael Borgonia, had 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 outdoors. 

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 mandatory, but only optional in well-ventilated and open spaces.  

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.  

Garcia said the resolutions being issued by the IATF are merely recommendatory in nature, adding even the IATF recognizes that its resolutions are neither equivalent to laws created and passed by Congress nor any executive order.

She also claimed that even the June 4 resolution titled “Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response” does not contain any penalty clause for violators that makes it tantamount to law. (Cebu Examiner, CNN, Ioannes Arong)