LGUs not following indoors mask policy to be ‘disciplined’ —DILG

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday warned that local government units not following the national government's policy on the use of face masks indoors will be "disciplined."

“Next time around kung meron naman diyang gagalaw, sinabi nga ni [Health Department officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire] about the indoors, we really have to implement this one. Talagang disiplinahin na natin yan,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said at a public briefing.

(Next time if another LGU makes a move, as Usec. Vergeire said about the policy for the wearing of face masks indoors, we really have to implement this one. We will really discipline that LGU.)

Abalos made the statement when asked about possible actions against the Cebu City government, which last week lifted the mandatory mask rule for outdoors

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama said he will continue implementing his executive order, citing the local autonomy of the city government.

Abalos said he asked Rama to suspend the implementation of the executive order, and that he will bring up the matter first with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

On Wednesday, Malacañang said the IATF has recommended that wearing face masks outdoors be made optional by year's end, but emphasized that this is not yet policy. — BM, GMA News