After the government disclosed its plan to allow voluntary use of face masks outdoors, non-profit advocacy group Go Negosyo has reiterated its call to stock up antiviral pills as among the country's mitigation strategies amid the pandemic.

Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion has welcomed the proposal of the interagency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases (IATF-EID) to lift the outdoor mask mandate, adding that it is now crucial for the Philippines to have mitigation strategies already in place.

Concepcion, who is also a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) formed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said among these mitigation strategies against Covid-19 include stocking up on antiviral pills, which he believes is a more practical move.

“We should ensure that we have enough supply of antiviral pills, especially Paxlovid, which we are currently out of stock in the country. This will become crucial as people start moving around without masks outdoors,” he said.

Malacañang on Wednesday, Sept. 7, disclosed that the IATF has recommended making the wearing of face masks optional in outdoor spaces where good ventilation is guaranteed across the country.

It is being eyed to be pilot tested by the last quarter of the year.

“If voluntary outdoor masking becomes (a) policy, it will allow Filipinos to manage their own risks,” Concepcion said.

“We must be diligent in practicing common-sense health protocols like having good ventilation, physical distancing, and handwashing. I think we have had enough practice in the last two years to know how to keep ourselves from being infected,” he added.

Meanwhile, OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco suggested that masking must remain on public transportation and health care facilities, which according to the Department of Health will be retained.

“This will allow some Omicron spread but in light of the decision of many Filipinos not to get boosted, it is better to allow for Omicron illness among those whose immunity is waning now to strengthen population immunity rather than to face a possible deadlier variant in six months that could kill more people,” Austriaco said.

Hybrid immunity, or immunity from both vaccination and infection has been cited as one of the reasons for the relatively low incidences of Covid deaths in the Philippines in the last month compared to the same period last year. But even scientists, who put forward the opinion that natural immunity is more robust than vaccine immunity, still believe that getting vaccinated and boostered is the best strategy in avoiding illness.

Marcos has yet to formally approve the IATF proposal, but he has given a "verbal approval" on the recommendation.