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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DILG bent on stopping Cebu's optional face mask rule, taps gov't lawyers

DILG bent on stopping Cebu's optional face mask rule, taps gov't lawyers

Published Jun 16, 2022 11:33 am

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be tapping government lawyers to stop the implementation of an executive order that lifts the mandatory use of face masks in the province of Cebu.

DILG Sec. Eduardo Año said the Executive Order No. 16 issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia runs contrary to the Executive Order No. 151, series of 2021 which pertains to the Nationwide Implementation of the Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response.

Año warned Cebu province residents that they face arrests if they violate the mandatory wearing of face masks even if Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order that make it optional in well-ventilated and open areas.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) placed Cebu province under Alert Level 2 from June 16 to June 30.

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50 percent indoor capacity for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated) and 70 percent capacity outdoors.

Año reiterated that the mandatory wearing of face masks will still be implemented by the national government amid the Covid-19 pandemic with the law enforcers arresting the violators.

“Ang ating kapulisan, patuloy na magko-confront at kung kailangan arestuhin sa matitigas ang ulo (face mask rule violators), gagawin ng Philippine National Police ‘yan (The police will continue to confront and if necessary arrest the stubborn face mask policy violators. The Philippine National Police will do that),’’ Año warned.

The Cebu provincial board passed the ordinance on third and final reading in a special session on June 14 after Garcia issued Executive Order No. 16 which states that wearing of face masks shall be required only in closed and air-conditioned spaces.

In earlier interviews, Garcia insisted that she does not recognize the resolution of the IATF on the mandatory wearing of face masks as the law, claiming that its guidelines “doesn’t carry the force of law, not enacted by Congress, nor is that an Order signed by the President.”

But Año refuted Garcia’s claim, saying that local government officials may face charges if they violate the orders of the national government. (Chito A. Chavez)

Related Tags

CEBU PROVINCE optional wearing of face mask policy DILG Gwendolyn Garcia Eduardo Año 2
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