DILG Halts Cebu City’s Non-Mandatory Facemask Rule

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama agreed to the order of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to discontinue the implementation of the non-mandatory facemask rule in the city.

This comes after DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. talked to Rama about deferring his latest facemask rule.

“I had a talk with Mayor Mike Rama to defer the implementation of Executive Order No. 5 series of 2022 declaring the use of face masks in Cebu City as non-obligatory, and 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 stated.

Abalos added that he would suggest to the IATF to make Cebu City the pilot implementer of the non-mandatory use of facemasks in the country.

“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,” Abalos added.

In his statement, he assured all local chief executives that they have the DILG’s support.

“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 policy-makers of the IATF,” Abalos said.

Executive Order No. 5 was signed yesterday, August 31, 2022, by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, an EO that will give liberty for people not to wear their facemasks in Cebu City. (ASC)