League of Provinces to discuss optional COVID-19 face mask wearing

After Cebu province issued an executive order making it optional to wear a face mask in well-ventilated and open spaces, the League of Provinces of the Philippines said they would discuss whether to make it optional to wear a face mask against COVID-19 when outdoors.

"Hindi pa namin talaga napag-uusapan. But I look forward kasi itong Biyernes meron kaming gaganapin na term-ender meeting at sana doon, plano ko rin po makipagkuwentuhan at makipagtanungan sa aming mga kasamahan kung ano ang kanilang pananaw dito sa isyu na ito," said League of Provinces of the Philippines National Chairman and Quirino Governor Dakila Cua at the Laging Handa briefing.

(We have not yet discussed it. But I look forward to this Friday because we will have a term-end meeting and hopefully, I plan to talk and ask my colleagues regarding their views on the issue.)

"Nakikita po natin na may LGUs na nagsasabi, pag-aralan man lang, pag-usapan, tingnan ang datos. We ask our IATF to share the data," Cua added.

(We see that some LGUs are saying that it should at least be studied, discussed, and the data looked at.)

Under Executive Order No. 16 issued by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, the wearing of face masks would be required only in closed and air-conditioned spaces.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) however did not recognize Garcia's Executive Order as it ran counter to IATF Guidelines approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Likwise, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the IATF resolution on the mandatory wearing of face masks prevailed over executive orders issued by local government units.

“The IATF resolutions on the mandatory wearing of face masks, whether indoor or outdoor, are incorporated in and/or enabled by executive orders issued by the President,” explained Guevarra.

Cua said the provincial government of Quirino had started discussing whether they would follow Cebu's example.

"We see that perhaps there should be dimension or depth to this policy at least in the outdoors. Kasi dadating at dadating ang panahon, nakikita po natin, na ang pandemya ay huhupa at magiging isang lokal na matter na lamang po," he said.

(Because time will come, and we shall see, that the pandemic will subside and will become only a local matter.)

"Siyempre naman po kung makapapanganib sa aming mga kaprobinsyahan, hindi naman namin ipatutupad 'yung ganu'ng panukala," Cua clarified.

(But if it will be dangerous for our province-mates, we will not implement such a policy.)

Cua joined calls for a study on policy changes in the outdoor use of face masks, even amid a possible declaration of a public health emergency in the country under the term of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Cua reported zero COVID-19 cases in Quirino province, as their only COVID-19 case had recovered sometime between Monday and Tuesday.

For its part, the Department of Health reiterated that minimum public health standards, that included wearing well-fitting face masks together with vaccinations and boosters, had helped keep COVID-19 case counts low despite the detection of new subvariants.

"Scientific evidence supports the use of best fitting face masks in reducing the transmission not only of COVID-19, but also other infectious and respiratory diseases including Monkeypox, should it reach our country," the DOH said in a statement.

The Health Department added that current IATF protocols allowed the removal of mask only for specific instances, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.

"The COVID-19 virus is still present and the pandemic is not yet over. Individuals can still catch the virus, most especially for our vulnerable population," the DOH said, reminding the public to observe minimum public health standards and to get their boosters. — DVM, GMA News