DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the mandatory wearing of face shield is still "not required for the general public," as the local government is still waiting for a directive from the National Government.
This was the mayor's response in a radio interview on Wednesday, August 5, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released memorandums on requiring face shields for public transportation.
Duterte-Carpio said the local government would still have to check both memorandums because these did not exist when Executive Order (EO) 47 was crafted.
The EO was officially issued on Tuesday evening, August 4, providing the city's guidelines under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
"So far, as of writing this EO, dili siya required (it is not required) for general public," the mayor said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Earlier, LTFRB issued a memorandum circular dated Saturday, August 1, stating that drivers, conductors, and passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in areas across the country under general community quarantine (GCQ) must wear a face shield or eye protector, on top of the mandatory wearing of face masks.
Meanwhile, in a DOTr memorandum dated August 3, Undersecretary for Administrative Service Artemio Tuazon Jr. directed all officials of transportation sectors to enforce the policy in areas where public transport has been permitted.
The memo states that wearing face shields will be required for everyone traveling via public transport beginning next week, August 15, 2020.
Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio said under the EO, the city mandated the wearing of face shields "for employees and establishments where there is a high volume of people moving inside the premises."
"Anywhere [kung asa] ang mga tao naa dinha nagtapok (where there is a gathering of people.) [Also], when the job of a worker puts him in close contact with other individuals," Duterte-Carpio said.
The mayor said these include offices that accept clients physically, such as hospitals, wet markets, retail stores, restaurants, and churches.
Receptionists, waiters, police, therapists, and bank tellers, in case there is no barrier in their workplace, are also urged to wear face shields.
Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, said they will be waiting for a national directive that will serve as a "basis" for its inclusion in the revision of the EO.
Various reactions circulated on social media following the issued compulsory wearing of face shields in public transportation.
But the mayor based on her previous consultation with the city's medical consultants, said face shields provide "higher protection" against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
She also said, according to them, face shields that cover the entire face are more suitable than eye protector goggles as they guarantee "full protection" from the virus that could possibly land on one's face.