Voluntary usage of face mask has been approved by President Marcos in the posting of Executive Order No. 3
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved on Monday Executive Order No. 3 which allows the voluntary wearing of facemasks in outdoor settings and reiterates the continued implementation of minimum public health standards during the state of public health emergency relative to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The usage of face masks by the public has been a requirement since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Using this item has helped minimize the risk of getting infected by the virus and offers additional protection.
It has been mandated since 2020 as the country enters a State of Public Health Emergency due to Covid-19. There have been numerous guidelines that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) announced like the adoption of the alert level systems in response to the pandemic.
The latest executive order amends the guidelines and makes wearing face masks optional in open spaces or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation. However, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to still wear their face masks.
One of the reasons why the executive order has been approved is because there have been 72 million individuals or 93 percent of the target population in the Philippines that are fully vaccinated while 18 million or 23 percent of them already have had booster doses.
Additionally, 88 percent of the country’s 121 provinces, highly-urbanized areas, independent cities, and 696 component cities and municipalities are currently under Alert Level 1, which is the lowest alert level according to IATF’s guidelines.
Other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have already liberalized mask mandates without any significant increase in Covid-19 cases.
The voluntary usage of face masks indicates a recovery point of the Philippines towards the pandemic. This will help in the economic recovery of the country as it is still currently ongoing.
Additional Guidelines
Even though there is now a voluntarily wearing of face masks in open spaces, face masks are still to be worn in indoor private or public establishments where physical standing cannot be maintained like in public transport.
There will also be Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) that will be implemented in continuing to effectively prevent and minimize the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
The Department of Health (DOH) will be the one to update the MPHS guidelines. Both the DOH and IATF can submit recommendations for any adjustments needed in the MPHS like the requirements for the liberalization of indoor masks and indicators for monitoring the status of Covid-19.
All local government units (LGU), departments, agencies, government financial institutions, and instrumentalities of the government like SUCs and GOCCs are directed to give full assistance and cooperation with the IATF to ensure effective and orderly implementation of Executive Order No. 3.
Tags: #Covid-19, #FaceMasks, #EO, #Voluntary