MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places across the province after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units to undertake measures to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Emano amended section 1 (3) of his executive order setting forth additional guidelines in the implementation of the general community quarantine in the province.

In the amended section, the governor said wearing of mask, including home-made or improvised, is mandatory in all public places, including privately-owned food establishments and drug stores.

Jeffrey Saclot, spokesperson of MisOr Provincial Task Force on Covid-19, said handkerchiefs can be used as substitute for mask if the latter is not available.

"In Misamis Oriental, sitahon ang dili magsuot og mask like dili makalusot sa checkpoint, dili makasulod sa mga establishments, but we advise even handkerchief can be used as face mask para lang makacomply," Saclot said.

(In Misamis Oriental, we confront those who are not wearing mask and they cannot enter establishments, but we advise to use even handkerchief, it can be used as face mask for compliance.)