Voluntary Use of Face Shields Pushed

The use of face shields may become voluntary as the different government agencies push for it.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that there are proposals sent to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to allow the voluntary use of face shields in the country.

Voluntary use of face shields means that wearing face shields is not a requirement to enter malls and other establishments.

Moreover, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for the removal of the face shield policy.

DILG said that they would propose to the IATF to gradually remove the face shield policy, only requiring the use of face shields inside hospitals.

Meanwhile, in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also confirmed that there are already talks about removing face shields as a requirement as COVID-19 cases are decreasing in the county.

Although the new Alert Level System level 2 states that wearing face shields is only required in entering closed spaces and crowded places.

Moreover, the Davao City government has already implemented the voluntary use of face shields in the city, including areas in the 3C settings – crowded places, close contact, and confined and enclosed spaces starting on November 2.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 51-A, Series of 2021, known as “An Order Providing For The Guidelines On The Use of Face Shields,” on November 2, 2021.

“Face shields shall be for voluntary use in the 3Cs settings: crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces. For all other places, the use of the face shield shall not be required,” states EO No. 51-A. (ASC)