Defensor, Treñas say not yet time to lift mandatory use of face masks

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and City Mayor Jerry Treñas are not amenable to drop the mandatory use of face masks.

In a press conference on Thursday, June 16, Defensor said it is not yet the right time to make the use of face masks optional.

According to the governor, the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still present and the public should not become complacent in observing health protocols.

Defensor backed the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) to maintain the wearing of face masks until the end of the year.

Treñas also agreed to keep the use of face masks mandatory, noting that COVID-19 cases are still rising.

The province and city are currently under Alert Level 1, the least restrictive in the five-tiered system being implemented in the country.

As of June 16, the province has 207 active cases of COVID-19 while the city has 120 active infections.

Last week, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order making the wearing of face masks optional in open spaces.IMT