Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is not taking chances and is not keen in supporting the move to make optional the use of face masks, amid the rising cases of COVID-19 in some key areas of the country.
However, the governor said that if it is the order of the national government, Negros Occidental will have to follow it.
Lacson was reacting to pronouncements of acting Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during a meeting in Malacañang with mayors and governors, that those with good vaccination performance may be allowed to make optional the use of face masks in their localities, as a form of incentive.
“Personally, I will continue to wear a face mask,” the governor said, adding that he already availed of a booster shot.
He added that while the idea of wearing face masks optional is based on science, Lacson noted a spike in COVID-19 cases in the United States and Australia, by thousands daily, where people no longer wear such protection.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government will always cooperate with the programs of the Department of Health.
He said that the recent campaign of the DOH for booster shots in the country needs “the cooperation of all local government units.”
“I will course this through the president of the Association of Chief Executives, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, to encourage the members to really push for the booster shot,” Lacson said. He stressed that getting the booster will add protection against the virus.
Negros Occidental yesterday logged 16 fresh COVID infections, bringing to 78 the active cases, as of July 28, based on the Provincial Incident Management Team report./GB
