DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. has expressed support for the lifting of the mandatory face mask rule in open spaces with very minimal crowds.“Well, maraming factors yan. Ako ay naniniwala kung hindi naman siksikan sa labas kasi may mga bansang sinasabi na kung siksikan kailangan pa rin mag mask maski outdoors. Kung hindi naman siksikan at maluwag naman, tingin ko payagan na,” he said in a radio interview on Thursday, September 1, 2022.(Well, there are many factors. I believe that, just like in other countries, if it’s crowded, you still need to wear a mask even if it’s outdoors. If it’s not that crowded, I think not wearing one should be accepted.)“Ito ay personal ko lang, ito ay sa akin ano, pero let’s say ‘yung concert na talagang crowded kayo, e, dapat talaga medyo mag-mask tayo roon kahit outdoors ito,” he added.(This is just my personal opinion, but let’s say at a concert where it is really crowded, we still need to wear a mask even if it’s outdoors.)However, Abalos said the decision on the matter still depends on the recommendation of health experts.He vowed to bring up the matter to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).Abalos made the statement after the Cebu City Government issued an executive order making the wearing of face masks in all areas, whether open spaces or not, optional.In June, the Cebu Provincial Government also passed an ordinance based on Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s executive order, making the wearing of face masks in open spaces in the province no longer mandatory.Abalos earlier said he urged Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to defer the implementation of his order pending the decision of the IATF on the matter. He said Rama agreed.Both orders were in contrast to the health protocols set by the IATF amid the national health emergency in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Abalos maintained the importance of harmonized policies of the local and national government to prevent the further spread of the virus for the safety of the people.However, Abalos said he also understands the sentiments of the local government units in wanting to further ease the protocols in their areas of jurisdiction on the basis of boosting their economic recovery.He said he also discussed the matter with Tourism Secretary Cristine Frasco, Governor Garcia’s daughter, who said that lifting the mandatory face mask policy in the country will also be instrumental in boosting the tourism sector which has been badly affected by the pandemic.He said there were only two countries in the Asean that still require the wearing of face masks even while outdoors and that includes the Philippines and Myanmar. (SunStar Philippines)