As DOH says rules should be the same nationwide: Cebu City lifts mask mandate

CEBU, Philippines —  Starting today, September 1, 2022, masks are no longer mandatory in Cebu City.

Mayor Michael Rama signed on August 31 an executive order declaring the use of masks as “non-obligatory” but a measure of individual self-preservation and protection.

Executive Order No. 5 says the situation worldwide is indicative that the lethal effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is already wearing off and that vaccination has been proven to be an effective means in containing the spread and the impact of the coronavirus

“As a general rule, the City of Cebu adheres to the non-obligatory use of face mask within its territorial jurisdiction but respects the rights of individual person for self-preservation and protection. Subject to the aforementioned exceptions, wearing of face mask is not mandatory,” Section 6 of the order reads.

Rama, in a press conference, said that even if COVID-19 is still around, it is now time for the city to look beyond and shift its focus.

“I've seen the newspaper when I arrived from Canada, I saw an article about seeing that downward (trend) of COVID (cases). Looking at also on our own data that the figures is more on the admissions rising of non-COVID (cases), so we might just also do our own shifting without being oblivious that the so-called COVID naa, pero it doesn't mean nga mao lang gihapon na atong focus,” Rama said.

Rama said he will furnish the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) a copy of the EO so that Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. will be aware of the city’s decision.

As of this writing, Cebu City has 366 active COVID cases.

Provisions

Section 2 of the EO provides that as a rule, wearing of face mask is not required in outdoor and open spaces subject to the discretion of the mayor in exceptional circumstances.

All establishments, businesses, and entities, including administrators of buildings and facilities are granted with discretion to determine the propriety of the requirement, use and wear of face mask in their respective areas of responsibility.

In so doing, all establishments, businesses and entities are mandated to formulate a reasonable policy for the purpose and to implement the same in line with self-regulation.

However, masks “generally remains to be mandatory” inside hospitals, clinics, and other medical or diagnostic facilities, subject to the policy of these facilities and/or discretion of their administrator.

Persons who are immune-compromised, sick and/or having flu-like symptoms are advised strongly to stay at home and to seek immediate medical consultation. A mask is mandatory for these people, especially when they are outside their residence.

Section 7 of the EO states that all persons, establishments, and entities, including law enforcement personnel are directed to promote self-regulation and control in order to promote health, prevent surge of infection, and propel economic recovery.

Last February 24, Rama issued an EO institutionalizing measures and approaches which are designed to promote health, economic recovery, and “freedom with shared responsibility,” as an effective means of rising up and moving forward from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other calamities.

Rama said that as they go on with the pronouncement, the city government did not also stop with its formula which is the "vaccination way to liberation.”

Mayor Jonas Cortes of neighboring Mandaue City is also keen on lifting the mask mandate in open spaces.

“Uyon si mayor nga i-lift ang mandatory wearing of face masks sa open spaces ug iyaha ni i-recommend sa Sangguniang Panlungsod to possibly amend Mandaue’s facemask ordinance,” said Atty. John Edu Ibañez, the mayor’s chief of staff.

National Government

In a statement, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Malacañang respects the decisions of local government units but will also take into consideration the position of the Department of Health (DOH).

“We respect the mandate of local governments over their own jurisdictions… the President has no reaction to this as of yet,” Angeles said in a press briefing on Wednesday, August 31.

 “Like what I said, there is no reaction yet from the Palace on this one… It may be taken under advisement, although we do respect the mandates of local governments over their jurisdictions… if this is brought up, we will make such announcement… We’re also waiting for the reaction of DOH on this one… With all of that information coming in, there will be no statement yet,” she said.

In a separate press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire maintains that the mask mandate should still remain in the country at the moment.

Vergeire said they were not consulted on Cebu City’s decision.

“We were never consulted on this matter… regarding this removal of face mask… outdoors… and this executive order that they are going to issue,” Vergeire said.

She said no LGU is exempted from the protocols set by the national government. She said she will leave the matter to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for action.

“Ito po ay nasa jurisdiction ngayon ng DILG dahil ang DILG po dapat ang nagpapatupad ng mga polisiya ng national government across all LGUs… Wala pong exemptions sa mga protocols at mga pulisiya na atin pong pinapatupad,” Vergeire said.

One country approach

Vergeire said protocols must be the same countrywide.

 “As I always say, a country, or a city within a country, cannot act on its own… cannot be an island across all islands… Hindi po pwede na may isang lugar sa ating bansa na nagpapatupad ng kanilang protocol samantalang the rest of the country are implementing the other side of the protocol or magkaiba because we know we have porous borders… people all over the country travels to and from these different areas in the country… And we know that COVID-19 crosses borders… So if we are preventing the infections, in most of the areas in the country, and one area in the country will not have that kind of safeguard…Therefore, the possibility or  the risk of infection in this area would be higher because the safeguards are not there,” Vergeire said.

She said travelers to or from Cebu might have higher risks of infecting other people in other areas.

“That is why, mula noong nag-umpisa tayo ng COVID-19, atin pong inemphasize, hinaylight, we should be a one nation approach… This is the whole Philippines implementing safeguards for our population,” Vergeire said.

Fatigue

Vergeire said that while the government understands that people are experiencing fatigue from all the COVID-19 protocols, changes will have to undergo the right process.

“Naiintinidhan po natin  na talagang marami nang gustong magtanggal siguro ng mask outdoors at marahil na rin siguro sa experience from other countries… nakikita nila na pwede naman pala… Pero katulad nga ng sabi natin, sana po i-proseso natin… Let us do this a one nation approach… na hindi po tayo mag kanya-kanya… Let us try to follow our protocols right now… We will further study this kung maari na… kapag nakita natin na nakapagbigay na tayo ng added protection sa ating population through our vaccination,” Vergeire said. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)