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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Cebu City mayor welcomes IATF recommendation to ease face mask use

Cebu City mayor welcomes IATF recommendation to ease face mask use

Published Sep 8, 2022 02:04 pm

CEBU CITY – The mayor of this city welcomed the national government’s recommendation to make the wearing of face mask in open spaces optional.

Mayor Michael Rama said “I am glad" with the Inter-Agency Task Force’s (IATF) recommendation especially that the policy is already being practiced in this city.

"That has shown that Cebu being a model. And we should thank the national government that they also not oblivious that the whole world is really looking at rationalizing the matter about face masks," Rama said Thursday, Sept. 8.

Rama said the city is awaiting a written copy of the order from the national government.

The president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines said he will suggest to fellow local government unit officials especially on Cebu island to enforce the IATF recommendation for a unified policy.

Rama has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 5 that made the wearing of face masks in open spaces non-obligatory.

A succeeding EO issued by Rama clarified that the non-obligatory wearing of face mask is only temporary as it will only be effective from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 this year.

Rama’s decision to tweak his EO No. 5 came after the Department of Health complained that there was no consultation made when he issued the order.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also asked Rama to defer the implementation of the EO pending consultation with IATF.

First to impose such policy was Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who ordered the optional wearing face mask in open areas in the province in June.

Garcia’s EO became controversial after it was opposed by national government officials.

The lady governor has yet to comment on the recent recommendation of the national government.

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