DOH reminds candidates, supporters not to remove masks at campaign events

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday reminded candidates and their supporters to avoid removing their face masks during campaign sorties to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Gusto ko lang po ipaalala sa ating lahat na nandito pa rin po yung virus. Alam po natin yung mode of transmission ng virus, maari pong droplet infection, na kung saan maari kung kayo ay may sakit, maari po in a matter of this distance makapag-transmit kayo ng impeksyon,” the Health undersecretary said during a media forum.

(I just want to remind the public that the virus is still here. We know that the virus may be transmitted through droplets, which can be transmitted at this distance. If you acquire the virus, you can transmit it to other people.)

“I just like to remind everybody, lahat po ng ating kababayan [all our fellow Filipinos], including our candidates, including these individuals who are going in these campaign sorties ,please always wear your mask. 'Yan po ang pinakaimportanteng niyong panangga kasama ang inyong bakuna para maproteksyunan ang inyong sarili at para maproteksyunan din po ang ating community,” she added.

(The mask is the most important shield, along with the vaccine, that will protect you and the the community.)

The Health official also appealed to the local government units to implement safety health protocols in poll precincts for the coming May 2022 elections.

“Magtulong-tulong po tayo para po wala tayong superspreader events and we can maintain and sustain this alert level na mababa at patuloy tayo sa ating new normal,” Vergeire said.

(Let us help each other so that we don't have superspreader events and we can maintain and sustain this low alert level and continue with our new normal.)

The National Capital Region (NCR) and over 30 other areas in the country were placed under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, 2022.

‘Neutral’ on political matters

Meanwhile, Vergeire underscored that the Health department upholds “political neutrality,” noting that it is not affiliated with any candidates.

“Alinsunod sa Memorandum Circular No. 2021-0062 ng Office of the Executive Secretary, nanatili pong non-partisan ang DOH ngayong panahon ng kampanya at maski kailanman. Nanatili po ang prinsipyo ng political neutrality sa kagawaran at patuloy po itong sumusunod sa tagubilin ng Civil Service Commission (CSC) hinggil sa pagiging neutral,” she said.

(Pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2021-0062 of the Office of the Executive Secretary, the DOH has remained non-partisan during the campaign period. The principle of political neutrality remains in the department and it continues to follow the instructions of the CSC on neutrality.)

Vergeire also clarified that health workers seen in photos of a campaign rally wearing DOH shirts are not their employees but those of their LGUs.

Vergeire also reminded the agency’s employees to refrain from engaging in partisan political activities during the campaign season.

“Paalala po sa kawani ng kalusugan at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan na maging mas maingat sa paggamit at pagsusuot ng mga material o kasuotan na nagrerepresenta ng isang partikular na ahensya kung sila po ay dadalo sa election campaigns kagaya ng sa larawan. Ito ay upang maiwasan natin ng pagkakaroon ng misrepresentation ng mga kinabibilangang ahensya,” Vergeire said.

(A reminder to all employees of the DOH and other government agencies to be more careful in using and wearing clothing materials that represent a particular agency when they are attending election campaigns. This is to avoid having misrepresentation of the agencies involved.)

The CSC earlier warned that it will impose sanctions on government workers who engage in partisan political activities.

Those found guilty of engaging directly or indirectly in partisan political activities will be meted with the penalty of one month and one day suspension to six months for the first offense; and dismissal from the service for the second offense, according to the circular.

The penalty of dismissal is without prejudice to criminal or civil liability, and shall carry with it cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and bar from taking civil service examinations. — BM, GMA News