Mayor Isko Moreno appeals for the lifting of mandatory wearing of face shields, a move which is fully supported by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. Photo by JERRY S. TAN
Isko seeks lifting of mandatory wearing of face shields
MANILA Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has appealed to the Inter-Agency TaskForce on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to revisit its policy requiring the general population to wear face shields in public.
During his live broadcast, Moreno said that in the absence of a scientific study regarding the use of face shields as a must to avoid getting infected with coronavirus, the said policy can already be discarded so as not to add to the burden of the citizens.
The mayor said that apart from extra expenses, the use of face shields over the face masks also makes it even more difficult to breathe, specially amid the heat and on the part of those who have lung-related comorbidities and the elderly.
“Nanawagan ako sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na nagtatala ng alituntunin na dapat nating araling muli ang polisiya kung saan ay nire-require ang taumbayan mag-face shield sa public place,” the mayor said.
“Ang akin pong pananaw diyan, kung ‘yung tao hirap na sa buhay, kung wala namang siyentipikong pagpapatunay tungkol sa face shield eh baka pwede na itong rebisahin para nang sa ganun, makatulong man lang tayong mabawasan ang gastusin ng bawat tao dahil ang face shield po di nagla-last nang matagal. Every now and then, bumibili ang tao alam nyo po ‘yung 10 piso at etneb, sa isang mahirap o empleyado mabigat din yan kung every other day bibili ka niyan,” Moreno added.
Moreno said the Philippines is the only country in the world that still requires the wearing of face shields.
He further opined that face shields should be used only for those visiting or working in hospitals.
“But that is my opinion. That is my call to the concerned agencies, na sana, silipin at araling muli na desisyunan sa lalong madaling panahon kung kailangan pa ba nating pagastusin ang taumbayan ng face shield kung ito’y di naman kailangan gaya ng nangyayari sa ibat-ibang parte ng mundo,” Moreno added.
While calling on the authorities concerned to set aside the policy mandating the wearing of face shields, Moreno stressed that “mask is still a must.”
Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna expressed full support to the mayor’s stance, saying the mandatory wearing of face masks is more reasonable, along with other health protocols like social distancing and frequent sanitizing of the hands.
Lacuna said replacing face shields from time to time still spells extra expenses on the part of the citizens and that the money for this can instead be used for buying staple needs.
In April last year, the wearing of full face shields in public places, together with face masks, was made mandatory by the IATF.
