CEBU CITY -- The mayor of this city welcomed President Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) allowing the optional use of face masks in open and well-ventilated areas.
Mayor Michael Rama said the President’s EO No. 3 put to rest all debates on the issue of optional use of face masks in open areas.
“I appreciate it very much and I want to look at it... I look at it as managing COVID vis-a-vis economic recovery,” Rama told reporters in an interview.
Rama has issued an EO that made the wearing of face masks non-obligatory.
Under Rama’s EO, the measure is only temporary as the non-obligatory use of face masks is only effective from Sept. 1 until Dec. 31.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan also welcomed the President’s EO.
“The City Government of Lapu-Lapu will abide by Executive Order No. 3, signed by our President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. allowing the voluntary use of face masks in outdoor and non-crowded places,” Chan said.
While he agreed with the easing up of the face mask policy, Chan advised senior citizens and immunocompromised to still strictly use face masks if necessary.
“However, I strongly encourage our dear senior citizens, immunocompromised including those who are not fully vaccinated individuals to properly wear their face masks and continuously observe physical distancing at all times, especially in indoor settings,” added Chan.
The optional wearing of face masks in open areas has long been enforced in the province of Cebu.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued an EO last June that made the wearing of face masks in open areas voluntary.
Garcia’s EO was met by stiff opposition from some national government officials but the governor stood by her decision.
In a recent interview, Garcia said the national government’s decision to ease up the use of face masks in open areas served as some sort of vindication for the province.
"I am just so grateful that finally, Cebu's policies are now being reaffirmed by the IATF," Garcia said in a Sept. 9 interview with reporters.
"As the past two years have shown, I guess we have always done it the right way. Sometimes we were the lone voice, we were labeled as mavericks, but in the end, I guess our groundbreaking and visionary policies were proven right,” the governor added.