CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has agreed to hold in abeyance the implementation of his executive order that made “non-obligatory” the wearing of face mask in the city, Interior Secretary Benhjamin “Benhur” Abalos announced yesterday.

Abalos said he has asked Rama to defer the implementation of the order, noting that the country is still in a national health emergency due to COVID-19.

He also noted that President Marcos Jr. has even recently called on Filipinos “to be more vigilant and proactive in following established health protocols.”

“Mayor Mike agreed to temporarily put this executive order on hold by virtue of my commitment to bring the matter to the IATF for deliberation,” Abalos said in a statement.

Abalos was referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which is leading the fight against COVID-19. Abalos is a key member of the task force as DILG secretary.

“In fact, I am going to even further suggest to make Cebu City the pilot implementer of this measure since the city has always been first in espousing non-masking policies outdoors for the ease and benefit of its people amid the pandemic,” he also said.

Abalos appealed to local chief executives not to adopt measures similar to the one introduced in Cebu City pending discussions by the IATF.

“I have already requested the IATF Secretariat to immediately convene in order to thoroughly discuss this measure. Be assured that I, and the whole of DILG, will support its implementation as soon as this initiative gains the concurrence of the experts and policymakers of the IATF,” he said.

On Wednesday, Rama signed Executive Order 5, series of 2022, making the wearing of face mask in the city as non-obligatory. He said the situation was already ripe to implement the measure due to the city’s high-rate of vaccination against COVID-19 and improved situation in the metropolis.

The order however states that wearing of face mask in hospitals, clinics and other medical and diagnostics facilities remains mandatory. Persons who are immuno-compromised, are sick, and have flu-like systems are also required to wear face masks when they are outside their residence.

It also gave all establishments, businesses, and entities the discretion whether they will still mandate the wearing of face mask in their areas.

In a radio interview, Abalos said Rama’s intention to implement the policy was good, but this should be taken up by the IATF “for purposes of harmony.”

“I will bring this up next week and hopefully, this issue will be over after one or two weeks,” said Abalos.

Abalos said he was personally in favor of ditching the use of face mask outdoors, particularly in areas that are not crowded. He noted that some countries are no longer requiring the wearing of face mask outdoors.

“If it’s not crowded, I think we should allow it (non-wearing of face mask). That’s my personal opinion. But let’s say concert, that’s really crowded, we should still wear face mask (in such venue) even if its outdoors,” he said.

Current IATF guidelines require the wearing of face mask when in public and even in open spaces. People are only allowed to take off their face mask when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.

During a radio interview, Rama assured the city will respect any decision that will be reached by the IATF.

“What we would like to tell DILG Secretary Benhur and the President is don’t worry about us because we’re not stubborn…Whatever position that will be adopted by the national, its simple, certainly we will be attuning,” said Rama.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, Rama said the proposed pilot testing of the non-obligatory wearing of face mask should not cover Cebu City only.

“It should cover all of us, one Cebu Island. That is our current concept, we operate we operate as one Cebu Island…If we can do it in Cebu Island, it also be done in other islands, this can be also done in other big cities,” said Rama. – With Gerard Naval

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