DOH: Voluntary wearing of facemasks get mixed reactions from LGUs

Many Filipinos still wore face masks outside their homes the day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 3, which allowed the wearing of face masks outdoors voluntary, Department of Health officer in charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire has said.

At a news briefing, Vergeire said Marcos' order on the optional wearing of facemasks outdoors met mixed reactions from local government units. 

"The first day of implementation pinalabas yung executive order, actually in-anounce pa lang natin ito andaming local governments ang nagtatanong sa atin p'wede na nilang ipatupad," Vergeire said.

"'Yung ibang local governments they wanted also that they will stick to the existing restrictions na hindi pa rin sila papayag ' pag walang mask. Mixed ang reactions ng ating mga local governments,” he added.

(The first day of implementation after the executive order was released, actually when we announced it, many local governments asked if they could already implement it. Other local governments wanted also that they stick to the existing restrictions, that they will still not allow the non-wearing of masks. We received mixed reactions from the local governments.)

“But yesterday, during the issuance of the EO, this is personal observation wala pa po tayong report na nakuha sa DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) but based from this nakita natin na marami pa rin po ang nakamask sa labas sa kalye doon po sa mga pinupuntahan natin public spaces,” Vergeire said.

“And we have seen also that there are some people who were not wearing mask already especially yung malalapit sa bahay pagdumaan sa mga harap ng bahay nila o di kaya sa maluluwag na lugar,” she added.

(But yesterday, during the issuance of the EO, this is a personal observation, we have yet to get a report from the DILG but based from this, we have seen that many still wear masks oon the streets, in the public spoaces we go to. And we have seen also that there are some people who were not wearing masks already especially those near their houses when we pass in front of their residences or in open spaces.)

EO No. 3 states that "the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation is hereby allowed; provided that not fully vaccinated individuals, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to wear their masks and physical distancing will be observed at all times.”

The order added that face masks should still be worn "in indoor, private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea, and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

Vergeire earlier said that the optional masking should be done only by “low risk individuals” which does not include senior citizens, people with comorbidities, children, and those who have symptoms with COVID-19.

The health executive said that wearing of face mask was “still our default” in any public place.

“Mask is still our default when we say that mask is still our default for any settings na pupuntahan natin pagkakaalam natin na ang risk mataas, we still continue to wear our mask,” Vergeire said.

“Ngayon ito pong optional mask outdoors kapag alam natin lahat, kapag dumating kayo sa point na yung ating levels, pagpumunta na tayo sa tumataas na yung ating healthcare utilization, tumataas yung severe and critical, tumataas yung deaths definitely magtataas [ng alert level],” she said.

Vergeire said there was no need for new measures or “triggers” to be able to revise the policies.

“Hindi na natin kailangan ng panibagong measures or triggers for us to be able to mandate and to order and to revise our policies for us to impose again itong mandate natin sa outdoor masking because we already have our alert levels,” Vergeire said.

“So kapag dumating tayo sa point na tumataas na yung pinagiingatan nating indicators which are admissions in hospitals, severe and critical cases and deaths rightfully the policy will be revised and it will be discussed within the IATF and also recommended to the president,” she added.

The DOH official issued the remark after the OCTA Research Group said that it hoped the government would put in place a "set of triggers" for the reimposition of the policy.

The OCTA said relaxing the face mask policy has been discussed by its members since May this year as part of initiatives out of the pandemic.

The Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces by year-end amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said last Wednesday. —NB, GMA News