DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte here said the city government would only adopt the optional wearing of face masks outdoors as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) nationwide if there is data showing that it would not trigger a Covid-19 surge.
Duterte said while he is amenable to easing the strict face mask policy in outdoor spaces, he would still want to see if this would work out in other local government units (LGUs).
He said that City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Ashley Lopez recommended keeping the existing local policy on the mandatory wearing of face masks in public until the end of the year.
City Ordinance No. 0307-20 passed on July 23, 2020 provides that any person caught not wearing a face mask in public places shall be penalized with a fine of P500 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 or one-month imprisonment for the third offense.
“Tanaw nako na ok hangtud December. Gusto man gud nako katong mga probinsya munisipyo, og uban syudad nga dili mag facemask, tan-awon usa nako unsay mahitabo nila (In my view, it’s OK if keep it until December. I want to see what will happen to the provinces, municipalities, and cities that will apply the optional wearing of face masks),” Duterte said.
He added that the city government will apply the optional wearing of face masks if it would not endanger the safety of people as the threat of Covid-19 remains.
“Kung makita nato nga OK sila, diha pa ta mosunod pero di nako gusto mag una una ta kay kapoy kaayo ng problema ng Covid gyud (If we see that it turns out OK for them, that’s when we follow. I don't want us to initiate it first because the problem of Covid is tiresome),” he said.
Duterte said he does not want the city to grapple with another Covid-19 surge which has already encumbered this city for more than two years.
He said he does not want to enforce a policy that would cost the lives of the people.
“Huwat lang ta hantud December or maybe dili gani kaabot og December. Tanawon nato ang datos sa uban lugar kung ok gani, di optional mao na atong buhaton (Let’s just wait until December or maybe before December. Let’s look at the data of other areas. If it’s OK, then we will make it optional),” he said.
On Friday, Sept. 2, Duterte said the city government would have to wait for a directive from the national government on the face mask policy.