Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday, September 13, issued an executive order allowing the optional wearing of face masks in open spaces and crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation.
Executive Order No. 33 or “An order providing for the policy and guidelines in wearing of face masks within the territorial jurisdiction of Bacolod City” was issued in response to a similar order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday.
Benitez, in EO 33, stressed that the wearing of face masks shall continue to be worn in hospitals, medical facilities, indoor private or public establishments, including public transportations by land, air, or sea.
Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, senior citizens and immuno-compromised are highly encouraged to wear their face masks and observe health protocols, he added.
Minimum public health standards such as physical distancing, frequent hand washing, avoidance in crowded areas shall continue to be implemented, Benitez said.*