Wearing face masks inside the new Office of the Vice President (OVP) central branch in Mandaluyong City is still required, OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said on Tuesday.

In a Viber message, Munsayac reminded the public that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order for the voluntary wearing of face masks only applied to outdoor settings and open spaces.

“Dahil (because it’s) indoor po ang office, yes po [it’s still required],” he said when asked about the health protocols for visitors.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte personally led the ribbon-cutting and blessing of the newly-opened central office on Monday at 11th floor of the Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Edsa corner Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City.

Duterte said the new central office aims to streamline the OVP services through a unified establishment.

“Pinagsikapan natin na magkaroon tayo ng opisina kung saan ang mga empleyado ng Central Office ng OVP ay nasa iisang gusali lamang dahil nais nating maging mas epektibo, mas matipid, at mas mapabilis ang ating trabaho dito sa Central Office (We strived to have our own office where the employees of OVP Central office will be in one establishment only because we want our work to be more effective, to save more, and to speed up our work),” she said.

She added that the public can now expect a wider range of services in the next coming months.

Duterte also lauded the workforce behind the effective delivery of the OVP.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga kawani ng Office of the Vice President — kayong lahat na naririto ngayon — na buong-puso, buong-katapangan, at buong-katapatan na nagsisilbi sa publiko (I thank all of you, OVP personnel, all of you who are here, who have wholeheartedly, courageously, and faithfully served the public),” she said.

She also acknowledged the hard work of all employees across the nation, including those in OVP satellite offices.

The OVP is continuously providing medical and burial assistance, OVP Libreng Sakay, as well as the pagbaBAGo campaign.

Other projects and programs will be also available soon including Peace 911 and MagNegosyo ‘Ta Day.

These programs are expected to be accessible through their satellite offices in Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, Surigao del Sur, and Bacolod. (PNA)