Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago urged on Thursday, Dec. 7, all port passengers to continue wearing a face mask when travelling amid the confirmation of cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, or the walking pneumonia.

Santiago said that while the wearing of face masks is not mandated since the national government eased the public health protocol restrictions, doing so would be of big help in containing its spread in the country.

"The Philippine Ports Authority has issued guidelines encouraging our riding public to go to the PPA terminals to observe the health precautions including the wearing of masks, including the constant and regular washing of hands, as well as maintaining social distancing,” said Santiago 

“We will not require it but we will encourage and we will put the appropriate reminders to the public,” he stressed.

The PPA implemented a “No Mask, No Entry” in all ports across the country at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But this was lifted after the national government decided to ease the travel and public health safety protocols as the country pushes for an all-out economic revival due to the adverse effects of the pandemic.

The PPA itself noted a significant increase in passenger and cargo traffic since the restrictions were lifted.

In the case of the “walking pneumonia”, Santiago said it will not result in similar travel and public health restrictions.

“We only encourage our port passengers to observe the basic public health safety protocol especially that we expect the influx of passengers in the coming days,” said Santiago.

The influx of more passengers is expected in the third week of December.