Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson lifted today, September 11, the mandatory use of face masks when in open spaces around the province of Negros Occidental.
Lacson who signed Executive Order No. 22-45, Series of 2022 on September 9 but was released only today, said that the use of face masks will now be optional for all persons when outdoor.
But the mandatory use of face mask in close spaces will remain a requirement, the governor emphasized.
He added that the use of face mask will also remain mandatory inside hospitals and other medical facilities.
The move of Lacson was in response to the government’s direction where the use of face mask in open spaces will no longer be a requirement by the end of 2022.
The Cebu province was first to implement such directive.
In Bacolod City, however, the use of face mask is still a requirement even when in open spaces as no directive from the city was formulated in relations to it yet.