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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos okays voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors; LGUs to set standards

Marcos okays voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors; LGUs to set standards

Published Sep 12, 2022 03:28 pm

After some deliberation, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Malacañang announced.

(Manila Bulletin File Photo)

According to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Executive Order (EO) No. 3 on the new face mask policy would take effect immediately.

EO No. 3 was signed by Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on September 12.

Based on the EO, the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation is now allowed, provided that physical distancing will be observed at all times.

However, the following individuals are still "highly encouraged" to wear their masks:

  • Non-fully vaccinated individuals
  • Senior citizens
  • Immunocompromised individuals

Meanwhile, Angeles said that the local government units would set the standards, such as defining the terms "outdoor" and "good ventilation."

"Normally, things like these are determined by the local government kasi sila po ang (because they are responsible for) enforcement in these instances," she said.

However, she said the national government might eventually have to step in depending on the feedback on the new policy.

"Let's see how it works. That's the reason we're doing it in phases so that we have a feedback mechanism," Angeles said.

"We continue to listen to the people, what the needs are, and particularly also to understand that local needs also differ. So we have to balance the creation of a uniform standard with the needs of the locals," she added.

"We're doing this in stages, in phases, so that we can have feedback on whether or not these new policies are working and how to make them more efficient so that hopefully, by the end of the year, we might be able to be voluntarily masked indoors as well," she continued.

'Wall of immunity'

Angeles said President Marcos approved the recommendation because the country is only six percent away from achieving a "wall of immunity."

"He had imposed a condition, and one of them is the establishment of the Wall of Immunity. Since we're six percent away from that, then it's time," she said.

Last week, Marcos said he would study the recommendation to allow the voluntary wearing of masks outdoors.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH) Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard, 18,552,043 booster doses have been administered as of September 11.

To date, the Philippines has recorded 3,906,260 Covid-19 cases.

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