THE Davao City Police Office will be suspending its apprehension of individuals not wearing their face mask outdoors after the City Government of Davao adopted the recent executive order of President Ferdinand Marcos allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors.
“We follow the instructions of the City Mayor [Sebastian Z. Duterte], on hold and apprehensions sa mga areas nga naka-state didto sa executive order (EO) ni PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) (apprehensions are put on hold in areas that have been stated in the EO of PBBM),” PMaj. Teresita Gaspan, DCPO Spokesperson, said during a press conference on September 14, 2022.
On September 12, 2022, Marcos issued an EO allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings nationwide despite the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
The EO states that the announcement should be “effective immediately” and the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory in “open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation”.
Meanwhile, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and people who have not completed their Covid-19 vaccination are still “highly encouraged” to continue wearing face masks in all public areas for their protection.
One of the reasons for the declaration of the EO is due to the high vaccination rate and an improvement of the country against Covid-19.
Earlier, Duterte said to lift the wearing of face masks in December 2022 as recommended by the City Health Office Head, Dr. Ashley Lopez, but after the EO had been released he immediately ordered the Inter-Agency Task Force Davao (IATF-Davao) to comply.
“Mayor (Baste Duterte) has already ordered compliance with the EO pending MPHS (minimum public health standards) amendment from IATF. Existing ordinances related to this will be put on hold. We will allow the optional wearing of face masks outdoors indicated in the provisions of the EO 3,” Lopez said in a text message with SunStar Davao earlier.
However, Gaspan said that they will still apprehend individuals not wearing face masks indoors. She also said they will review the EO and identify areas where face masks must still be worn.
“Siguro reviewhon to namo ang executive order kung asa ang mga areas na necessary and required ang wearing of face masks and magkakaroon din naman ng conference with the City Government (of Davao) sa kana nga butanga (We will review the EO to identify these specific areas where people will be required to wear face masks. A conference will most likely be called by the city government with regards to this concern). Kung unsa man ang instructions (Whatever the instructions) and order, we will follow,” Gaspan said. KSD