Pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang Executive Order No. 3, na napapahintulot ng boluntaryong paggamit ng face mask sa labas o outdoor settings.

Inihayag ito ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles nitong Lunes sa press briefing.

"Naglabas po tayo today ng Executive Order No. 3, allowing voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings and reiterating the continued implementation of minimum public health standards during the state of public health emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic," pahayag ni Cruz-Angeles.

"Ito na po 'yung ina-announce ng DOH na voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors, in non-crowded places, provided... kung kayo ay immunocompromised, seniors or hindi kumpleto ang bakuna, kailangan pa rin po mag-face mask or strongly encouraged ang face masks," dagdag niya.

Nakasaad sa EO No. 3 na, "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."

Gayunman, itinatakda pa rin ang paggamit ng face masks sa "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."

Sinabi rin ni Cruz-Angeles "effective immediately" ang naturang kautusan kapag nailathala na sa Official Gazette o sa mga pahayagan.

Nang tanungin kung bakit pumayag si Marcos sa voluntary use ng face masks sa outdoor settings, sinabi ni Cruz-Angeles na 6% na lang ang layo ng bansa sa tinawag niyang "wall of immunity."

"He had imposed a condition and one of that is the establishment of the wall of immunity since we are 6% away from that then it's time. So we're doing this in stages, in phases so that we can have feedback on whether or not these new policies are working and how to make them more efficient," paliwanag ng opisyal.

"Hopefully, by the end of the year, we might be able to have a... to be voluntarily mask indoors as well," patuloy niya.—FRJ, GMA News