CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — On Thursday, Oct. 27, local business leaders warned Marcos’ management that he opposed more relaxed minimum public fitness rules, warning that newly detected strains of COVID-19 and Malacañang’s plan to make indoor mask wearing optional could lead to a buildup of infections. especially holidays.
“All we ask is that you be careful and give it a little more time,” said Raymundo Talimio Jr. , president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Talimio said local businessmen feared an earlier announcement that Marcos was about to issue an executive order to make wearing face masks voluntary indoors, adding that it smelled like double standards.
The government has already eased external masking.
Talimio said Marcos’ management is incompatible with his rules and the messages he sends to the public.
“At one point, they’re strict with those regulations when it comes to the president; The next day, they allow the public to prevent them from wearing face masks,” he said.
For example, Talimio said, he and other business leaders in Cagayan de Oro had to get tested for COVID-19 because the government imposed stricter fitness regulations when Marcos headed to the 48th 2022 Philippine Business Conference and Expo at Hotel Manila on Oct. 20.
He also noted that Marcos and other officials donned masks at their stopover in Davao on Thursday to honor the inauguration rite of the 23 billion peso bridge assignment that would link Davao and Samal Island.
“These are combined messages we get from the government. They don’t need the president catching the virus, and yet they allow the masses to be exposed to it. It’s like they’re saying it’s okay for the mass to take risks, but regulations suddenly replace when it comes to the president,” Talimio said.
He said Malacañang’s stance is also incompatible with the Health Ministry’s call for the public to continue wearing face masks.
“What we do know is that we are still in a pandemic and there are new variants that seem to spread and eliminate the immune system. We are still not blameless,” Talimio said.
He said the last thing the business sector needs is an extra in COVID-19 cases and the government will be forced to impose a new circular of restrictions, as it would damage the economy again.
“They come on November 1 and 2 and then we will have the December holidays. It wouldn’t hurt if the government gave more time to the face mask rule. I hope they pay attention to the science,” Talimio said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Marcos was about to issue an executive order to make indoor mask wearing voluntary, and that the only exceptions would be public and medical transportation, medical facilities, the unvaccinated, the elderly, and others with comorbidities. .
“Overall, the direction of Marcos’ management is to lift the rest of the restrictions, and that includes relaxing our mask mandates to allow our country to be on par with our ASEAN neighbors who have long liberalized their mask mandates,” Frasco said.
Cagayan de Oro City Council industry committee chairman Councilman George Goking said the government consults with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).
“What do the experts say? It would happen with their position because it’s their experience and they know what’s best,” Goking said.
The former president of the College of Physicians of the Philippines, Dr. Maricar Limpin, had suggested in the past that the government delay the relaxation of restrictions in the event of a pandemic Rappler. com.