INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr yesterday said he has “presented” before the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) the possibility of easing the rule on mandatory use of face mask.
“I presented this policy, at least outdoors, which we discussed yesterday in the IATF,” Abalos, a key member of the task force, told a television interview.
Abalos brought the issue before the body days after Cebu City mayor Michael Rama signed an executive order that made wearing of face mask “non-obligatory” in the city.
Rama’s order made the wearing of face mask mandatory only in hospitals, clinics and other medical of diagnostic facilities and among persons who are immuno-compromised.
The order granted all establishments, businesses, and entities in the city the discretion to require the wearing of face mask in their areas.
Abalos tried to convince Rama to hold in abeyance the implementation of the order, vowing to bring the issue before the IATF. Abalos has said Rama agreed to his request, but the mayor later said he was going to proceed with the implementation.
Abalos said he presented the idea before the IATF as part of his commitment to the Cebu City mayor.
“In any case, this is already with the IATF. We discussed it and it seemed we had a good discussion. Probably by the end of this week, we’ll come out with this decision, whatever it is” said Abalos.
Abalos declined to give further details of the discussions, saying discussions in the IATF on certain matters should be kept confidential until a decision is reached.
“But one thing I could assure you is that this issue is being discussed, being studied right now and I’m sure in a week’s time this is over, before the end of the week,” said Abalos.
Last week, Abalos said he personally favored the lifting of the mandatory use of face mask outdoors, particularly in areas that are not crowded. But, he said, the protective covering must still be used when attending concerts, even if its outdoors, because these events are crowded.
Abalos stressed that the IATF discussion is easing the policy on use of face mask outdoors, and not indoors.
“It’s all about (the) mask mandate outdoors, we are not talking about indoors, just outdoors. There are points of view that we’re the only country and Myanmar in the ASEAN with mask mandate, the others have none,” he said.
He added the country’s vaccination rate against COVID-19 should also be considered in making the decision whether to ease the rule on use of face mask.
“We have to weigh everything and that’s what is being discussed more or less… Of course, all of these things should be taken into consideration,” said Abalos.
