DILG rejects Cebu government's policy vs. face mask

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed to keep enforcing the wearing of face masks after the Cebu government makes it optional.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that under the Inter-Agency Task Force protocols, face masks can only be taken off when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.

“This Department does not recognize the Executive Order issued by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia because we have the IATF Guidelines approved by the President,” he said.

“The Philippine National Police will continue to confront, apprehend, and arrest, if necessary, all violators of IATF Guidelines and MPHS in the Province of Cebu,” he added.

Under Executive Order No. 16 issued by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, the use of face mask is now optional in well-ventilated and open spaces in the province.

The DILG reminded the public and local government officials that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over and people can still catch the coronavirus.

“Our adherence to minimum public health standards is the key to defeating this pandemic. Wearing of face masks, together with vaccination and boosters have helped keep our COVID-19 case counts low despite the detection of new subvariants,” Año said.

He added that there is scientific evidence worldwide that “proves that the use of face masks reduces the transmission not only of COVID-19, but also of other infectious and respiratory diseases including monkeypox, should it reach our country.”

Following the DILG's statement, the PNP said it would "continue to enforce the standing orders and directives against those violators of the facemask rule."

“We will also continue to warn and remind the public not to relax as COVID-19 is still in our surrounding. We urge the public for cooperation to government measures on public health set by the National IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” it added.

Garcia defends EO

In Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras," Garcia defended the directive saying the provincial government is merely “formalizing what is actually already happening”.

“We’ve had huge crowds during rallies in the last campaign. Was anybody checking if they were all wearing face masks?” she told reporters in a press conference.

“The wearing of face masks shall be optional. It shall be a matter of choice,” she stressed.

Asked about Año’s warning the PNP would continue apprehending violators of minimum public health standards, the governor answered: “That's up to him. I think he's going out na diba? (I think he’s already going out, right?) But we will see.. in the province of Cebu, there's no apprehension. I've already said, 'you do not apprehend nor do you fine, give them face masks'.”

She further said the Cebu government is invoking Section 105 of the Local Government Code in implementing the controversial EO.

The provision states that the Secretary of Health “may, upon the direction of the President and in consultation with the local government unit concerned, temporarily assume direct supervision and control over health operations in any local government unit (LGU) for the duration of the emergency, but in no case exceeding a cumulative period of six months. With the concurrence of the government unit concerned, the period for such direct national control and supervision may be further extended.”

“It’s been two years and I am ready now to test that. Local autonomy must prevail,” Garcia said.

The Department of Health, for its part, encouraged the public to continue wearing masks even outdoors stressing it serves as protection not only from the dreaded coronavirus but other health risks including the monkeypox virus.

“Hindi po kami nakonsulta regarding this move or EO coming from Cebu. Ang DOH po, kasama po ng ating mga eksperto ay naninirahan sa ating position na ang mask po ay still valuable in our response,” Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said.

(We were not consulted regarding this move or EO coming from Cebu. The DOH stands with other experts on the position that masks are still valuable in our response.

“The mask not only protects us from COVID-19 but from other respiratory infections as well as the monkeypox. Maliit na sakripisyo para maprotektahan tayong mga kababayan natin pati ang ating komunidad. Sana po ay huwag nating kontrahin,” she added.

(The mask not only protects us from COVID-19 but from other respiratory infections as well as the monkeypox. This is just a small sacrifice for us to protect the public and our community. I hope we will not go against it.)—Joviland Rita, Sundy Locus, and Ted Cordero/KBK/LDF/VBL, GMA News