With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issuing Executive Order (EO) No. 7 which allows voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor spaces, Davao City authorities will no longer issue citation tickets to individuals not wearing face masks.
In February this year, the city government of Davao deployed deputized personnel in the city streets and offices of the city government to enforce the ordinance of the mandatory wearing of face masks, including the issuance of citation tickets with a penalty of P500 to violators.
“Very clear ang guidance during our Covid-19 Task Force meeting na walay issuance of citation tickets ang atoang mga deputized enforcers ani nga mandatory wearing of face masks,” said Angel Sumagaysay, head of Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.
Sumagaysay is also certain that the city government of Davao will adopt the EO of Marcos through an executive order.
“Kung mao man na ang guidelines gikan sa kauluhan i’m pretty sure nga i-adopt pud na sa atoang local government. Ang final say dinhi ang adoption sa atoang local government through executive order. Mao na atong tumanon. Pirmi ta naka-align. But then again nagapanawagan gihapon ang health sector and highly encouraged gihapon nga mag mask ang atoang mga kaigsoonan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force stressed that wearing of face masks is still mandatory in public transportation and medical health facilities as it also encourages those in the vulnerable sector to protect themselves.
Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has approved the adoption of the provisions and guidelines of EO 7 in the city, which provides that voluntary wearing of face masks is exempted in healthcare facilities, including, but not limited to clinics, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics; medical transport vehicles (ambulance, paramedic rescue vehicles); and public transportation (land, air, and sea).
The said order also provides that mask-wearing is encouraged for the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, unvaccinated individuals, and symptomatic individuals.
