MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the public on Wednesday to continue wearing face masks despite the more relaxed optional face mask recommendation.
Previously, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended that face masks should be worn outside in public voluntarily.
“We trust that this IATF recommendation liberalizing the government policy by allowing optional mask wearing in well-ventilated, non-crowded outdoor areas is based on [a] thorough evaluation by our experts guided by evidence-based studies.”
SENATOR BONG GO
“Ngunit bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, hinihikayat ko pa rin ang mga kababayan nating magsuot ng mask, mapa-mandatory o optional man ito.”
(However, as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, I still encourage our fellow citizens to wear face masks, whether mandatory or optional.)
“Mabuti na ‘yung nag-iingat tayo habang andyan pa ang banta ng kalabang hindi naman nakikita. Huwag tayong magkumpiyansa. Habang nandiyan pa ang COVID-19, delikado pa rin,” he further added.
(It is better that we take care while the threat of our enemy that we cannot see is still there. But, let us not be complacent. While COVID-19 is still here, it is still dangerous.)
Go also reiterated his request that the general population get vaccinated against COVID-19 and encouraged those qualified to receive a booster shot.