DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) -- Getting rid the mandatory policy on wearing of facemask is not yet the right time, said Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health.

He pointed this out in  his recent visit to the City of Tagum during which he also expressed his opposition to proposals to wear off facemasks.

“Di pa po  panahon; di po ako sang-ayon  sa ngayon (It is not the right time yet; I don’t agree with it),” he said.

Among his cited reasons were the ongoing vaccination drive to catch up the herd immunity requirement while also noting that some Filipinos were yet to be vaccinated.

“Remember nandyadyan pa po si COVID-(19). Habang nandyadyan pa si COVID (19), importante pa  rin po ang pagsusuot ng (face)mask. (Remember that COVID  is still there; while COVID is still there, it is still important to wear facemask),” he told members of the media during the ambush interview that took place after a brief program held at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Brgy Apokon, City of Tagum.

Senator Go visited DRMC Tagum to turn over additional funding support from the Office of the President (OP) for the Malasakit Center and to grace the inauguration of the P200 million worth Linear accelerator to  treat cancer patients.

He called on people not to get complacent so the country won’t go  back time when area lockdowns were imposed, consequently closing the economy leading to lose of a number of jobs.

“Dahan dahan lang po tayo one at a time; siguraduhin po natin na ligtas ang bawat isa. Unahin natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino (Let’s go slow one at a time; let’s make sure that everyone is safe. Let’s consider first the lives and good health of every Filipino),” he said.

While he viewed it good that some areas were under Alert Level 1 with food establishments opening up in full capacity, he still considered it wise to wear facemask upon going out.

He urged people to submit themselves to vaccination as vaccines are still substantially available for free.

“Huwag sayanging ang pagkakataon. Magpabakuna na po kayo. Para makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay (Let’s not waste the opportunity, Let’s get vaccinated for us to get back to normal lives),” he said. (PIA XI/JDAbangan)