DESPITE the new order on optional wearing of face masks inside the classroom, the Department of Education in Region 7 urged students to wear masks while attending face-to-face classes.

DepEd-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez said wearing masks will prevent the spread of Covid19 and protect the children and teachers.

Jimenez said that students may have been exposed to the virus especially after the long weekend.

“For example, they could have gone from one cemetery to another… we don’t want that the spread would come from our schools. So we have to be careful,” he said.

The director, however, clarified that the use of face masks is not mandatory.

The DepEd Central Office said on Tuesday that wearing of face masks in schools will be voluntary in light of Executive Order No. 7 issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which makes the use of face mask voluntary indoors and outdoors.