Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the use of face masks inside the Capitol building in Bacolod City will still be required.
He pointed out that what the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended is the voluntary use of face masks outdoors.
It did not say that masks may no longer be used in indoor public places, he said.
The IATF-EID recommendation has not been acted on by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yet.
The provincial government will comply with the order of the national government, Lacson said.
The active COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental were 162 on Friday.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he is okay with the optional wearing of masks in public places.
He also noted that new COVID-19 cases in Bacolod are lower so “we’re okay”.*