Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the public on Wednesday to continue wearing face masks even if the government makes it voluntary indoors.

Hontiveros said the wearing of face masks is still important, especially since Undas (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) and the Christmas season are coming.

“Alam natin yung previous surges ang naging trigger ay yung mga family reunion. So, matutunan sana natin yung leksyon na yun at gamitin natin sa preventive health practices (We know that the previous surges were triggered by family reunions. So, we should have learned the lesson and use it in preventive health practices),” she told Senate reporters.

She said the wearing of face masks is among the cheapest preventive health measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), citing the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

“Kung maging preventive, proactive, promotive ang health practices natin, mas matipid tulad ng sa pagma-mask at mas makatitipid kaysa sa magkasakit tayo ng Covid-19 (If our health practices are preventive, proactive, and promotive, it would be more economical. For instance, the wearing of masks can save us money compared to getting infected with Covid-19),” Hontiveros said, considering the burden that the public health system has been facing because of the pandemic.

“Ipagpatuloy natin yung minimum public health protocols lalo na sa mga pamilya at households natin na merong immuno-compromised na myembro o kaya ay may sakit. So, hindi na po masama yun (Let’s continue the minimum public health protocols, especially for families and households with immuno-compromised members or those who are sick. So, it is not bad at all),” she added.

Schools, Hontiveros said, are also among the places where the face mask mandate should be continued because they tend to get crowded and physical distancing might not be observed.

“Ang last or first line of defense ng mga bata, ng mga guro, ng mga admin at non-teaching personnel ay ang pagma-mask, tapos pagsiguro na may handwashing at cleaning facilities sa mga eskwelahan (The last or first line of defense of the children, teachers, administrative and non-teaching personnel is wearing masks, then ensuring that handwashing and cleaning facilities are available in schools),” she said.

Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco announced on Tuesday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos is set to issue an executive order that would make the wearing of face masks voluntary indoors, except in public transportation and medical facilities. (PNA)