Garbin objects to DOH, DILG bid on wearing face mask inside homes

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. is not supporting the suggestion of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government on wearing face mask even inside residences.

In a press statement on Thursday, Garbin pointed out that the weak contact tracing system in the country forced the DOH and the DILG to recommend this "unconvincing" policy proposal.

I am not convinced by the justification of the DOH and DILG -- supposedly based on their data -- that most COVID-19 transmissions happen at home, Garbin said in Filipino.

He argued that "weakness in contact tracing"  makes DOH and DILG data also weak, adding that tracers tend to limit their target subjects only among members of the family of those found positive for COVID-19.

Garbin claimed that the government's data on COVID-19 do not include transmissions in public transportation, workplaces and other areas outside home.

Further, he pointed out that convincing the families to wear face mask at home is difficult. "They would consider it an unreasonable infringement upon their rights."

"To borrow from a well-known fable, let us not be like the wind huffing and puffing to force people to heed our advice. Instead, let us be like the sun shining bright, warm, and hot to make people follow our guidance," he said.

Moreover, he said government agencies must instead recommend decontamination procedures for employees that they can practice before entering their homes.

"What is key here is that the virus comes from outside homes, so let us reduce the risk of COVID entering homes," Garbin stressed. —LBG, GMA News