President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order allowing the voluntary use of face mask in outdoor settings.
This was announced on Monday, September 12 by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. A copy of the Executive Oder No. 3 was also shared to the public.
"The voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation, is hereby allowed, provided that not fully-vaccinated individuals, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to wear their masks, and physical distancing will be observed at all times," reads the order.
According to Cruz-Angeles, the order does not cover indoor, private, or public stores, "including in public transportation modes by land, air or sea, and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained."
Those who are immunocompromised, senior citizens, and individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear their face masks, she added.
The EO is to take effect immediately upon publication on the Official Gazette.
Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, said on Wednesday, September 7, that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recomended that the wearing of face masks become optional for low-risk individuals, and in uncrowded areas with proper air ventilation.
Several local government units, including those of Cebu City, Ilocos Norte, and Negros Occidental, have decided to ease their policy on the wearing of face masks.
