THE DEPARTMENT of Education office in Central Visayas announced on Wednesday that students in Cebu City and the rest of the region will have to wear face masks.

Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd regional director for the DepEd, commended Cebu Mayor Michael Rama for allowing the department to use its discretion on the use of face masks despite the local government’s decision to relax the requirement.

Rama issued Executive Order No. 5, removing the mandatory use of face masks.

The mayor declared a “trial period” from September 1 to December 31.

While unvaccinated students and teachers are allowed to participate in face-to-face classes, Jimenez asserted that students should continue to wear face masks in schools to provide parents a sense of security.

“Since it has been our protocol and we don’t want to scare our parents and learners, we have to continue observing these protocols,” he said.

“Face masking can prevent not only Covid, but other viruses as well,” he added.