Optional Wearing of Face Masks Now Local Law

The optional wearing of face masks in open and well-ventilated spaces is now a local law in Cebu Province.

This came after the Cebu Provincial Board unanimously approved the ordinance in a special session.

The author of the ordinance, Cebu Provincial Board Member John Ismael Borgonia, said this would ease Sugbuanons worries while going out of their homes.

“People would go out sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka balay, dili na sila mahadlok nga posible nga dakpon sila sa law enforcers kay naa na man ni nga ordinance nga atong gipalabang (People would go out of their house, knowing that they don’t have to worry that they would be apprehended by law enforcers because of the newly approved ordinance),” Borgonia, said.

The governor has ordered the police to give people face masks instead of apprehending persons not wearing face masks.

On June 8, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order No. 18 that rendered the wearing of face masks optional in well-ventilated and open spaces.

Read the article here:
Face Masks Now Optional Outdoors in Cebu Province

“Wala may penal clause ang IATF guidelines nga nag-require og face mask, so dili pwedi kadakop ang police on the basis of IATF guideline, or penalize either monetary or imprisonment (There is no penal clause on IATF guidelines that requires face mask, so the police could not arrest anyone on the basis of the IATF guideline, or penalize either monetary or imprisonment),” Borgonia said.

However, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) rejects Cebu Province”s Executive Order No. 18 saying that there are guidelines that are approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) are still in effect and told the Philippine National Police (PNP) to continue enforcing the law.

Read the article here: DILG Rejects Cebu’s Optional Wearing of Face Mask

While the wearing of face masks is now optional in the mentioned spaces, people who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms such as coughing, fever, runny rose, etc. are required to wear face masks at all times when going outside. (ASC)