DAVAO CITY - The City Government of Davao will be adopting and implementing Executive Order 3 which allows the voluntary use of face masks in outdoor, non-crowded and well-ventilated places.

“Here in Davao City as directive of our Mayor, Mayor Sebastian Duterte and the decision of the rest of the COVID-19  Task Force, We will be implementing or adapting the EO 3 of PBBM effective immediately, so since narelease siya kagahapon ang effectivity nya kagahapon (since it was released yesterday, its effectivity was yesterday),”  says Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the COVID-19 Task Force during  today’s (Sept. 13) guesting at the Davao City Disaster Radio.

Dr. Schlosser said the amendment to the City Ordinance 0307-20 which mandates the use of face masks in public spaces will be ongoing while the EO3 is being implemented.

However despite the laxing of rules on face masks, Dr. Schlosser said the City is strongly encouraging the wearing of facemask to persons  who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and vulnerable sectors (senior citizens, immunocompromised).

“Taas gihapon ang number of deaths sa covid 19 di paq dapat ta magkompyansa (The number of deaths because of COVID-19 is still high we should not be overconfident),”  Dr. Schlosser said.

Executive Order number 3 signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was announced yesterday (Sept. 12).  The EO cited several reasons for the relaxing of the face mask policy.

Among these reasons included; the high percentage of the Filipino population who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the improving COVID-19 situation with many of the local government units now under Alert Level 1, and neighboring Southeast Asian countries already have liberalized face masks rules which did not result in the spike of COVID-19 cases. (PIA/RG Alama)