Mayor, Council work on amendment of face mask ordinance to prepare for approval New National Rule

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong has requested the city council to amend the city ordinance on the use of face masks in anticipation of the approval by the President of the new rule limiting face masks’ mandatory use in indoor settings.

The mayor on Sept. 8 wrote the city council through Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan saying there is a need to prepare for the new face mask use rule in view of the developments on the national front.

“The IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) has already forwarded a policy recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on liberalizing the use of face masks, particularly making it an option to wear face masks in outdoor, low-risk settings for persons who are not immunocompromised,” the mayor said.

He said the city is prepared for such developments as it had attained a 126.53 percent full vaccination rate.  The city also posted 121.10 percent accomplishment in the senior citizen’s group, 26.20 percent of whom had received their second booster shots.

“Our efforts to ramp up vaccination for primary and booster doses have not waivered and we are fully committed in our ongoing efforts to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination in the city.  In addition, our health standards shall continue to be implemented especially in high-risk settings.  In any case, our Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate mechanisms are always ready should circumstances so require,” the mayor said.

He said the city has remained on a low-risk level enabling it to open more economic activities, wellness and fitness activities, and resume face-to-face activities in schools. – Aileen P. Refuerzo