Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday urged the government to give out free masks to the people to ensure strict observance of minimum health protocols amid the stern order of President Rodrigo Duterte to the police to arrest mask protocol violators.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Health said he agreed with the view that there is a need to tighten the implementation of protocols to prevent further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Go pointed out that apart from the strict imposition of discipline against those who do not obey the protocols, “we also need to care for our countrymen who cannot obey due to poverty and lack of proper information”.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Go said, have already agreed along with his office to provide free masks to the detainees who have violated health protocols.

He said he had a talk with incoming PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar and DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez on how to deal with the protocol violators.

“Napagkasunduan po namin na kapag nahuli po ng pulis at bago ilagay sa selda at tuturuan, ile-lecture, ay bigyan po ng face mask dahil baka ang mga ito ay wala talagang pambili ng face mask, kawawa naman. Baka doon pa sila magkahawaan sa selda (We agreed that when they got arrested by the police and before putting in a cell to be lectures, lectured, they should be given first a face mask as they might not have the means to buy a face mask. I pity them. They may get infected inside the cell),” Go said in a statement.

He reminded authorities of the need to instill discipline and at the same time show compassion to the poor and vulnerable sectors, by giving them time to comply with the necessary guidelines to keep communities safe from the threats of Covid-19.

“Apart from providing free masks, the people must also be educated on why these policies are important. At this time that the threat of the unseen enemy is there, we need the discipline and solidarity of every Filipino,” Go said in Filipino.

The government, he added, is ready to do everything to save the lives of the people, especially those who are already struggling to live.

He said wearing face mask is crucial in preventing transmission of Covid-19, explaining further that individuals who are not experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 may still be a carrier of the virus and spread it to others.

“It was said by our dear President that he wants those who do not wear masks to be arrested. Although the President doesn’t want to imprison you and he wants to discipline and teach a lesson to those who are really reprehensible, because we don’t know that many are asymptomatic, those who are not wearing a mask are spreading the disease,” he said in Filipino.

Go said he asked Duterte to also provide free masks to individuals apprehended due to protocol violation so that contagion of Covid-19 in detention facilities would be prevented.

He also emphasized the observation of medical experts that the proper wearing of standard masks reduces the risk of contracting and spreading the virus by 85 percent.

Meanwhile, proper wearing of masks, coupled with face shields and social distancing, further reduces the risk to more than 90 percent. (PNA)