The local government of Cebu City has declared the use and wearing of face masks as “non-obligatory” in the city, except in hospitals and other medical facilities as well as for individuals showing flu-like symptoms.
Based on Executive Order (EO) No. 5 signed on Wednesday, Aug. 31 by Mayor Michael Rama, the wearing of face masks is no longer required in outdoor and open spaces.
“The wearing of face mask should be individually taken by all citizen, as measure of self preservation and protection under the principle of shared responsibility and mutual respect,” the EO read.
Establishments were also given discretion “to determine the propriety of the requirement, use and wear of face mask in their respective areas of responsibility.”
“All persons, establishments and entities including law enforcement personnel are hereby directed to promote self regulation and control in order to promote health, prevent surge of infection and propel economic recovery,” it added.
Individuals who are immunocompromised, sick, and are experiencing flu-like symptoms are still required to use the protective equipment.
Not consulted
In a briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they “were never consulted” on the matter which is now under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“A city within a country cannot act on its own, cannot be an island across all islands. Hindi po puwede na mayroong isang lugar sa ating bansa na nagpapatupad ng kanilang protocol, samantalang the rest of the country are implementing the other side of the protocols,” she said.
“We know that we have porous borders, we know that people all over the country travel to and from these different areas of the country, and we know that COVID-19 crosses borders,” she added.
The DOH stressed that the response on COVID-19 should follow a “one-nation approach” due to the mobility of the public and the ability of the virus to cross borders.
“If we are preventing infections in most of the areas in the country and one area in the country will not have that kind of safeguard, the possibility or the risk of infections would be higher in this area because the safeguards are not there,” Vergeire said.
Earlier, Malacañang said it respects the “the mandates of local governments over their own jurisdictions.” – With reports from Mark Fetalco and Alec Go
