(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – The Philippines is “seriously” considering proposals to ease the mandatory face mask policy in the country, Malacañang said Wednesday following data showing that relaxing the requirement boosted tourism numbers.
In a press briefing in Singapore, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the Departments of Health (DOH) and Tourism (DOT) have to reach a compromise on relaxing the mask requirement.
Citing data from the DOT, Cruz-Angeles said some parts of the world that have eased their face mask rules have seen a significant increase in tourist arrivals.
“Nagprisinta ang DOT na in certain states na nagluwag na tungkol sa face mask, tumataas ang tourism nila (The DOT gave a presentation showing that tourism numbers improved in certain states that have relaxed their face mask policy),” she said.
“Gawa nga ng front and center ang ating turismo sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya (Because tourism is front and center in efforts to revive the economy), this matter is being taken seriously,” she added.
Prior to the pandemic, tourism's contribution to the 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) was PHP2.48 trillion, or at least 12.8 percent of the total economy.
Tourism's share to GDP went down to 5.2 percent in 2021 following temporary halts in flights and tourism activities in 2020.
However, Cruz-Angeles said the DOH would still have a “major say” on the fate of the mandatory face mask policy.
“Kailangan magkatugma 'yung ating DOH at ang ating DOT and other agencies bago tayo mag-revise ng ating mask policy (The DOH and DOT need to reach a compromise before we revise our mask policy),” she added.
Last week, Cebu City issued an executive order (EO) making the use of face masks non-obligatory in open spaces and most places.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire insisted on the wearing of face mask as it scientifically provides 70 to 80 percent protection against Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, had also thumbed down the lifting of face masks citing the presence of the highly-infectious Omicron variant. (PNA)
