WEARING of face masks in public places is no longer mandatory, according to the ordinance passed on second reading by the City Council’s committee on health during the 38th regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Councilor Richlyn Justol-Baguilod, the committee on health chair, said that once the ordinance is passed, all the penalties associated with non-wearing of masks will be revoked.
“Nagpasa ta sa amended nga sa sea land ug air, required gihapon ta mag face mask ug adunay penalties. I-repeal nato and kadto tanan ineffective na siya once mapasa sa third reading and mapirmahan ang ordinansa,” Justol-Baguilod said.
In the committee report presented by the councilor, the Davao City Police Office identified 13,399 persons issued with citation tickets for policy violation from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. Five thousand and seven have paid their obligation while 8,392 have failed to pay.
Of the total number who failed to pay, 4,974 were filed with cases while the 3,418 were under regular filing and verification.
“Kung na file-an silag kaso during that period of time, pwede sila habolon, makasuhan gihapon pero kung wala sila na file-an og kaso dili na sila mahabol if ever mapirmahan na ang ordinansa,” Baguilod said.
However, the committee passed a separate resolution on the recommendation of the City Health Office to continue the practice of minimum health protocols, including wearing face masks, especially inside the schools to address rising influenza-like illnesses.
“Dili lang nato ni ma-penalize kay dili siya under sa national law og dili pud ta pwede mag mandatory of course karon nga wala tay COVID pandemic,” she added.
The health committee recommended the ordinance repealing the mandatory face mask following Proclamation No. 297 of 2023 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 21 which lifted the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 in the country.
