CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama signed Executive Order No. 6 on Monday, September 5, fixing the effectivity period of his optional face mask policy from September 1 until December 31.

“The same period shall be referred to as the trial and observation period,” Karla Henry-Ammann, Rama’s spokesperson said during the city’s flag ceremony. 

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama signed EO No. 6, setting the effectivity period of his optional face mask policy to Sept 1 until Dec 31.

“The same period shall be referred to as the trial and observation period,” Karla Henry-Ammann, Rama’s spox said.
(Photo from CCPIO)@rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/QDIO4nWr4m

— John Sitchon (@TheJohnSitchon) September 5, 2022

On August 31, Rama made the wearing of face masks “non-obligatory” in the territory of Cebu City through Executive Order No. 5.

This was met with mixed reactions from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH).

It also caused a confusing back and forth between Rama and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.

Abalos said on Friday, September 2, that Rama supposedly agreed to defer the order to make face masks optional in the city until the Interagency Task Force (IATF) weighed in on the move.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire also said in a press conference on August 31 that the department was not consulted about this.

While the mayor said the city would review the EO, he refused to defer the local mandate and insisted that the city did not have to consult the DOH about his face mask policy.

“We hope the national government will update its policies soon relative to the circumstances of the pandemic and the unique conditions in every place in our archipelago,” Rama said in a statement.

LOOK: Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama's statement in response to DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos' position on Rama's Executive Order No. 5 making the wearing of face masks non-obligatory in Cebu City.@rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/n4OZ2oh1b4

— John Sitchon (@TheJohnSitchon) September 1, 2022

Automatic lifting

Under the new EO, the optional face mask policy would be automatically lifted if COVID-19 cases surge in the city. 

Earlier in August, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera said that the city’s COVID-19 positivity rate was nearing 20% but has since decreased to below 5%.

Rama based his policy on the city’s record for having the most number of inoculations during the national vaccination drive and a low number of COVID-19 cases. He also said the city was one of the first to be granted Alert Level 1 status nationwide.

The Cebu City Health Department recorded more than 850,000 full-dose COVID-19 inoculations on August 31. The city has 1,156,146 adults registered for vaccinations.

As of Sunday, September 4, the city has 338 active COVID-19 cases and 57,633 total recoveries. –Rappler.com