Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles on Wednesday, 7 September announced that the national task force against Covid-19 has recommended making the wearing of masks outdoors voluntary.

Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has "verbally approved" the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force.

"Ayon sa IATF, ang kanilang recommendation ay pag-liberalize mask-wearing mandate and make mask-wearing outdoors voluntary across the country. Ulitin po natin, outdoors po ito," Angeles said in a Palace press briefing.

"Ito ay magiging optional in open spaces or in non-crowded outdoor areas," she noted.

Nevertheless, Malacañang "highly encourages" senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals to continue wearing their masks even outdoors.