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House won't ease face mask rule...for now

Philippines | National

House won't ease face mask rule...for now

By Ellson Quismorio

The House of Representatives will continue to implement the face mask mandate--at least for the time being.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco (PPAB)

This, after House Secretary General Reginald Velasco stated that there is as yet no plan to ease the rule on the wearing of face masks inside Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

“None at the moment," Velasco said in a terse reply when asked if the masking rule--first imposed in early 2020 when the Philippines recorded its first case of Covid-19--would be relaxed.

Batasang Pambansa holds the House plenary session, the individual offices of the 312 congressmen, as well as many other facilities used in legislation.

Once-a-week antigen testing for Covid-19 is still being imposed on House staff and visitors. A negative result will prevent the staff or visitor from entering the more vital locations in the complex.

Malacañang issued last Oct. 28 Executive Order (EO) No.7, which made the use of face masks in both the indoor and outdoor setting voluntary.

Several departments, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), have since adopted this directive.

Under EO No.7, masking inside healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportation remains mandatory.

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