Executive Orders (EOs) issued by mayors to lift the mandatory wearing of face masks in their localities are legal, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said.
Año disputed the statement of Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who said that mayor's EOs are null and void.
In a GMA News report, Año supported Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and presidential bet and Manila mayor Isko Moreno for lifting the face shield rule in their localities except in the hospitals.
On Nov. 8, Roque declared that the EOs are ‘null and void for being in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by the President.’
Malacañang said that the face shield policy for crowded and enclosed spaces remains in effect unless the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) revokes the scheme.
“Di naman null and void (EOs) kasi ang ating mga local government units, the local chief executives, based doon sa ating Local Government Code (these are not null and void because our local government units, the local chief executives, based on our Local Government Code) specifically Section 16, in order to provide service and protect people, puwede sila mag-enact ng mga ordinansa at executive orders (they can enact ordinances and executive orders),’’ Año said at the Villamor Airbase during the ceremonies welcoming the arrival of 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
Año explained that the vaccination rate is high and the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) risk is low in Manila, Davao City and Iloilo.
“Look at Metro Manila now, alert level 2 at low risk na tayo ngayon (and low risk now). So puwede na (lift face shield rule) 'yang mga ganyan (face shield rule can be lifted). Actually kino-consider 'yan sa IATF kaya lang kinapos lang ng time (to discuss) sa dami ng issues (the IATF is considering it but deferred due to time constraint and many issues),’’ he added.
Moreno issued Executive Order No. 42 on Nov. 8 saying that the use of face shields amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been made non-mandatory in the city except in hospitals, medical clinics and other medical facilities.
On the other hand, Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order No. 51-A on Nov. 2 stating that wearing of face shields in the city will be voluntary under certain conditions or 3Cs which refers to closed places, crowded locations and areas where there are close contacts. (Chito A. Chavez)