Employees and visitors are “highly encouraged” to wear face masks when entering the Iloilo City Hall due to the “rising cases” of COVID-19 in the metropolis.

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, Iloilo City COVID-19 Team chairperson, clarified on Wednesday, April 12, that the wearing of face masks at the city hall remains optional.

He said there is no policy implemented by the city government that denies entry to those who do not wear face masks.

On Tuesday, April 11, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued a statement saying that eveyone is required to wear face masks at the city hall.

“Face masks will ensure that infection will not increase in closed areas while continuing with the services of the city,” he said.

According to Fortuna, they recommended to the mayor the use of face masks inside the government building.

But he stressed that they have yet to decide whether it would be mandatory and whether stricter measures against COVID-19 would be implemented.

In the first three months of 2023, the city logged 101 COVID-19 cases. From April 1 to 11, it recorded 26 infections.IMT