Duterte: Masks required until end of term

President Rodrigo Duterte stated that face masks will remain mandatory until the end of his term.

He cited the need for continued adherence to public health protocols such as mask-wearing and hand washing due to ongoing risks from the pandemic.

Duterte emphasized that the country is not out of danger, despite a decline in new cases and hospitalizations.

The president urged the unvaccinated to get vaccinated 'to protect the body'.

He also warned against complacency, noting that other countries' sudden spikes in coronavirus cases were due to lax policies on mask-wearing.