AMID the continued spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, Mayor Michael Rama yesterday lifted the mandatory wearing of face masks in Cebu City, except in hospitals and clinics and among a crowd of immuno-compromised persons.

Rama yesterday signed Executive Order (EO) No. 5 that made the wearing of face mask as “non-obligatory” in the city. The order became effective upon signing.

“The use and wearing of face mask (are) hereby declared as non-obligatory within the territorial jurisdiction of the city of Cebu,” the four-page order read.

“Instead, the wearing of face mask should be individually taken by all citizen, as a measure of self-preservation and protection under the principle of shared responsibility and mutual respect,” it added.

The order gave all establishments, businesses, and entities the discretion to still require the wearing of face masks in their areas.

“In so doing, all establishments, businesses, and entities are hereby mandated to formulate a reasonable policy for the purpose and to implement the same in line with self-regulation,” it said.

But while the face mask rule was lifted in open spaces, the order said the use of the facial cover remains mandatory inside hospitals, clinics and other medical or diagnostic facilities.

It also said that persons who are immunocompromised, sick and/or having flu-like symptoms are “strongly advised” to stay at home and to seek immediate medical attention.

“In addition, wearing of face mask is mandatory upon the said persons especially when outside their residence,” it said.

Current guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases require the wearing of face mask even when in public places. People are only allowed to take off their masks when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.

In June, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order that made wearing of face mask optional in well-ventilated and open spaces, earning criticisms from national officials.

In a press briefing, Rama said the city is empowered to come up with such executive order under the Local Government Code that authorizes local government units to adopt measures to promote the general welfare of their constituents.

“And then of course in the Constitution, it’s very clear that local autonomy is being promoted,” said Rama, adding that the wearing of face mask is no longer mandatory in some countries.

Rama said the condition in Cebu City is already ripe to implement the non-obligatory wearing of face mask in the city, noting the high rate of vaccination against COVID-19 in the city.

“We already have a certain level of know-how, not necessarily mastery, in handling COVID,” Rama also said.

“Its (EO) not a product of haste. This is a product of looking at globally. Number two, this is also a product of actual situation, practical consideration,” he said.

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, who is the officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, assailed the Cebu City government for lifting the mandatory face mask policy) ahead of the rest of the country and sans a consultation with the agency.

“We were never consulted on this matter regarding this removal of face masks in the outdoors,” said Vergeire, adding: “A city within a country cannot act on its own. We cannot be an island across all islands. We cannot have one area implementing a certain protocol while the rest of the country is implementing the other side of or a different protocol.”

The health official reminded the city government of Cebu that the country has open borders, where the COVID-19 can easily penetrate and easily be transmitted. “We know that we have porous border. We know that people all over the country travel to and from different areas in the country. We also know that COVID-19 crosses borders. So, if we are preventing the infection in most of the areas in the country and one area will not have that kind of safeguard, the possibility of infection would be higher in this area.” Vergeire, however, said that they are leaving the case of Cebu City to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“This falls under the jurisdictions of the DILG. We hope there will be no exemptions in the implementation of protocols and policies,” said Vergeire.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Malacañang respects the independence of local government units. “We respect the mandate of local governments over their own jurisdictions. The President has no reaction to this as of yet,” Angeles said. – With Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor

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