BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental will continue to follow the guidelines of the Inter Agency Task Force for wearing face masks, disclosed Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday.
Lacson said that he will not follow what Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia did, dispensing with the use of face masks, except in closed and air-conditioned spaces.
We will follow what the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) says, Lacson stressed.
“We will still continue to wear masks and adhere to some distancing,” Lacson, who arrived Friday from a three-day visit to Guam, said.
In a statement, the Department of Interior and Local Government said that President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a directive to continue the wearing of face masks, except under circumstances defined by the IATF-EMID. Current IATF protocols allow only for specific instances, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.
Our adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) is the key to defeating this pandemic, outgoing DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.
He also reminds the public and all LGUs that the COVID-19 virus is still present and the pandemic is not yet over.
As June 11, the increase in COVID-19 cases has remained at single digits, with 26 active cases recorded in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental, except its seven towns and cities and Bacolod City, remains under Alert Level 2 until June 15.
On the other hand, Bacolod City, Candoni, San Enrique, Pulupandan, EB Magalona, cities of Sagay, La Carlota and Victorias have been placed under Alert Level 1.
In his speech during the Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City on June 12, Lacson also reminded all public servants that the pandemic presented an opportunity to re-evaluate and reconsider their methods, and in the process find alternative and effective means in the delivery of duties, services, and programs.
“For the past two years, the enemy we fought was not just the kind that threatened our democracy, it was the kind that threatened our very existence,” he added.
Lacson said that the people who fought for our freedom never wished for war and would choose peace and freedom, but they chose to fight so that the freedom and peace they yearn will be enjoyed by generations next, thus, it is the solemn duty of all generations to protect, preserve, and promote our freedom.
“It is my ardent hope that the present generation be conscious of our history, to understand that history is not just some stories of the past, that our rich history was marked by sacrifices of real people just like us,” he added.
The activity, with the theme “Kalayaan 2022: Pag-suong sa Hamon ng Pnaibangong Bukas” (Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning), was also attended by Board Members Rita Gatuslao, Ryan Gamboa, Manuel Frederick Ko, and Sixto Pal Guanzon, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, Philippine Coast Guard, Capitol department and office heads and employees, as well as representatives of various national government agencies, and non-government organizations.*
