PRRD orders LGUs to distribute free face masks

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced that he is mandating local government units (LGUs) to provide free face masks to their constituents to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Duterte gave the fresh directive to LGUs in a public address delivered Wednesday night, as he acknowledged that wearing a face mask can save people from “a lot of trouble”.

“The provincial government and the municipal government and the city government, I require you to buy and give it for free,” he said.

Duterte hoped LGUs would heed his call for the distribution of free face masks within their respective localities.

“Kung ayaw niyong gawin iyan ako ang magdala sa lugar ninyo. I will go to the city hall at ibigay ko iyan. Ayaw mong mag-bili, ako ang mag-deliver. Ibigay mo sa mga tao. Ayaw mong gumastos, ako ang gagastos (If you do not want to do that, I will deliver it to your places. I will go to the city hall and give it to you. I would deliver it if you don’t want to buy it. Just give it to the people. You don’t want to spend the money, I will spend mine),” he said.

Duterte’s directive came amid the pending arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

The use of a face mask is one of the government’s health protocols that Filipinos need to follow amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some LGUs have already begun distributing free face masks even before Duterte’s latest order.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded Filipinos to wear face masks and face shields to protect themselves against Covid-19.

Apart from the use of face masks and face shields, the government keeps on reminding the public to continue observing physical distancing and frequent handwashing.