Paggamit ng face mask indoor, optional — DOT

ni Lolet Abania | October 25, 2022

Pinaplano na ng gobyerno ang pagbawi sa mandatory na pagsusuot ng face masks sa mga indoor places sa gitna pa rin ng COVID-19 pandemic, ayon kay Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco ngayong Martes.

“[President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon issue an executive order] to make the indoor wearing of face masks also voluntary all over the Philippines with a few exceptions,” saad ni Frasco sa Palace reporters sa isang press conference.

“The overarching direction of the Marcos administration is to allow our country to convey an openness and readiness to the world, to receive tourists and investments so that we could give our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to regain all the livelihood and losses that were incurred during the pandemic,” pahayag ni Frasco.

“In the end, we simply cannot go on in a pandemic perspective because we have to give our country to thrive while maintaining basic health protocols on one hand and safe guarding and protecting livelihood and the economy on the other,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Gayunman, ang pagsusuot pa rin ng face masks ay magiging ani Frasco, “highly encouraged for unvaccinated individuals, the persons with comorbidities as well as senior citizens.”

Ayon pa kay Frasco, nakatakda na ring i-waive ng Pilipinas ang iba pang health protocols para sa mga travelers, kabilang na ang requirement ng pagpiprisinta ng negative RT-PCR tests kapag dumating sa bansa.

“As far as unvaccinated foreigners are concerned, they would henceforth be allowed entry into the Philippines with only the requirement of presenting an antigen test 24 hours taken before the departure or an option of taking an antigen test upon arrival into the Philippines,” sabi ng DOT chief.

Binanggit naman ni Frasco na ang e-arrival platform ng bansa ay na-upgrade na rin upang maging mas user-friendly na ito para sa marami.

Aniya pa, binawasan na ang mga tanong sa 10 mula sa karaniwang 20 items, habang ang mga travelers ngayon ay may option na ng pag-fill out ng e-arrival cards kung saan magiging maginhawa ito bago pa ang kanilang departure o arrival.