TOPIC: Marcos signs order allowing voluntary use of face mask outdoors
Selection Criteria Questions to ponder
Reliability What are the details of this
piece of news? Which of these
details can be verified in other
sources?
Accuracy Which of these facts are
measurable? How were they
derived? Was the article written
in an objective manner? Is the
article written with care?
Student Answer
The news article is informing its
audience that the current
president of the Philippines,
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,
has signed a legal order
regarding the optional use of
face masks outdoors on Sept.
12, 2022. However, the optional
use of face masks does not
apply to individuals that are
prone to getting worse effects
of the virus such as the senior
citizens and individuals with
incomplete vaccination.
Moreover, the implementation
of this executive order aims to
allow optional use of face masks
indoors by the end of the year
as stated by Press Secretary
Trixie Cruz Angeles. These main
details from the article can also
be verified in other local news
websites such as the GMA
News, Inquirer, and Philstar
since they all contain and
deliver the same information.
All the mentioned facts are
measurable since the article
also quoted Angeles and the
main idea of the executive
order regarding the optional
use of face masks. The
Malacañang has announced
this information to the public
which was streamed through
news broadcasts and then news
articles were written about it as
well. The article was written in
an objective manner since
there aren’t any opinions from
the authors in the news article.
Lastly, the article was clearly
fact-checked, and peer
reviewed especially when the
flow of the text of the article is

Value Consider the audience of the
article? Who would find this
article valuable?
Authority Who wrote the article? How is
the author related to the
article? What was his source?
Are the sources properly cited?
What is the reputation of the
author? Is he known for some
biases?
Timeliness When was the article written? Is
it possible that some of the
information in the article has
changed in time? If yes, would
the change have any effect on
the conclusion of the article?
written in a smooth flow and
there aren’t any biases.
All citizens living in the
Philippines would find this
article valuable because this
piece of news involves them.
They should be aware of the
current events and happenings
in their area as a responsible
citizen living in the Philippines.
The CNN Philippines Staff wrote
the article, and the authors are
related to the article since the
article was published under the
CNN online news website. The
authors did not specify through
which medium/method were
they able to collect information,
but they mentioned that the
Malacañang announced this
information to the general
public. The sources weren’t
properly cited on the website.
The CNN Philippines being the
most trusted media outlet was
made possible by the CNN
Philippines Staff. The authors
aren’t known for some biases
which makes their credibility
high.
The article was written on
September 12, 2022, the same
day that President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. signed the legal
order. It is possible that some of
the information in the said
article has changed in time
because the current Philippine
President may decide to bring
back the compulsory usage of
face masks outdoors if ever the
number of COVID-19 cases in
the country will increase further
due to this executive order.
There aren’t any effects on the
conclusion of the article if there
is any change in time since it
stated that it is yet to be
 improved and to be tested by
the government for its efficacy
once implemented.

References:

- Galvez, D. (2022, September 12). Face mask use now voluntary outdoors but... Inquirer.
Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1662544/wearing-face-
mask-in-non-crowded-well-ventilated-outdoor-areas-now-voluntary-palace.
- Bajo, A. F. (2022, September 12). Marcos allows voluntary use of face mask in outdoor settings.
GMA News Online. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/844562/marcos-allows-voluntary-use-
of-face-mask-in-outdoor-settings/story/.
- CNN Philippines Staff. (2022, September 12). Marcos signs order allowing voluntary use of face
mask outdoors. CNN. Retrieved September 12, 2022, from
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/9/12/Marcos-signs-order-allowing-voluntary-face-
mask-outdoors.html.