Senators on Wednesday, September 7 said they support the Inter-Agency Task Force’s (IATF) recommendation to push for an optional face mask policy when outdoors but the government should increase its COVID-19 vaccination program before it enforces a new health protocol.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said he hopes that the IATF’s recommendation liberalizing the government policy allowing optional mask wearing in well-ventilated, non-crowded outdoor areas is based on thorough evaluation by the country’s experts and guided by evidence-based studies.

Malacañang is mulling implementing IATF’s recommendation towards the end of 2022, according to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles

“Since day one of the pandemic, we heavily relied on good science in coming up with policies to address this health crisis,” Go said.

“Ngunit bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, hinihikayat ko pa rin ang mga kababayan nating magsuot ng mask, mapa-mandatory o optional man ito. Mabuti na ‘yung nag-iingat tayo habang andyan pa ang banta ng kalabang hindi naman nakikita. Huwag tayong magkumpiyansa. Habang nandiyan pa ang COVID-19, delikado pa rin (but as chair of the Senate committee on health, I would still advise our people to still wear face masks, whether mandatory or optional. It's better to err on the side of caution while threat is still here. Let’s not be complacent. While the COVID-19 threat is still here, it’s still dangerous),” he pointed out.

Nevertheless, Go said all individuals who remain unvaccinated should get themselves inocculated against COVID and those who have yet to get booster shots to avail of the existing programs.

“I also urge all government agencies, LGUs and the private sector to work together and intensify efforts to improve our booster numbers before the end of the year. Bukod sa pag-iingat, bakuna ang tanging solusyon para makabalik tayo sa normal na pamumuhay (Besides being careful, vaccination is still the solution so we can return to normal living),” Go said.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also said he would defer to the authorities’ decision on whether the wearing of face masks outdoor should be made optional.

“They are more knowledgeable of these things. Pinagaralan nila yan bago ilabas (They have studied it before they would recommend it),” Dela Rosa pointed out.

“But ako, personally, ayoko pa pero may basis sila. Pero ako takot pa rin ako. Magma-mask pa rin ako (I don’t want to go mask-less but they have a basis. But I am still afraid. I will still wear face mask) even if it’s optional,” he added.

Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, however, said he believes the country is ready to go “mask-less.”

“Since it is the recommendation of the IATF, then it means that it’s already safe to go outside without wearing face masks. As long as we are fully vaxxed, there might be no need to wear facemasks outdoor,” Estrada said.

His brother, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, likewise, agreed with the recommendations of the IATF.

“Yes I agree. I believe we only need to wear masks indoors or if there’s a big crowd, so it’s up to every individual’s discretion,” Ejercito said.