THE personnel of two government agencies that regulate the transportation sector will be deployed on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020—the first day of the implementation of the policy that does not allow commuters from riding public utility vehicles if they are not wearing face shields.

This move by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 is to ensure that the commuters in areas where public transportation is allowed to comply with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) memorandum requiring them to wear face shields in addition to wearing masks.

LTO 7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec met with his operations team on Friday, Aug. 14 to divide the agency’s personnel. They will be deployed to strategic locations in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas to check whether drivers and conductors are voluntarily enforcing the new policy, which aims to provide an additional protection against SarsCoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Caindec said wearing a face shield and mask is “better than being in the hospital,” adding that a respirator is more expensive if one hapthe pens to contract Covid-19.

Meeting

Caindec is set to meet with Police Regional Office 7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro next week to ask the latter’s help in the implementation of the DOTr order.

A recent study cited by the government states that a person has a 93 percent chance of not contracting Covid-19 if he wears a mask and a face shield.

Caindec said eye shields, visor, goggles and other protective eyewear are not considered as face shields.

“Face shields should cover your eyes, nose and your mouth,” he said.

Violators of the DOTr face shield policy will be asked to disembark the public utility vehicle. (WBS/PR)