Bong Go urges public to continue wearing face masks even outdoors

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go during one of the Senate’s proceedings. Senate PRIB file photo / Arlene Elaine G. Balbuena

MANILA, Philippines — Continue wearing face masks, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the public on Wednesday following the more lenient optional face mask recommendation.

Go’s remark came after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases suggested that face masks be worn outdoors 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,” Go said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

(As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, I still encourage our fellow citizens to wear face masks, whether mandatory or optional.)

Go further said: “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.”

(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 renewed his call for the public to be vaccinated against COVID-19. He also urged eligible individuals to avail a booster shot.

The senator likewise pressed government agencies, local government units, and the private sector to team up and strengthen efforts to ramp up immunization coverage before the year ends.

Department of Health data shows that around 72.6 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the figure, 18.3 million were administered with a booster dose as of September 6.

JPV/abc