PASSENGERS onboard an open and well-ventilated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are no longer required to wear face shields in Davao City.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, October 25, that PUJs are not covered in the 3C criteria set by the National Government in the wearing of face shields.
“Ang jeepney dili na na siya 3C kay dili na sila enclosed kadaghanan sa ilaha, duna tay L-3 no nga naka-aircon, kana siya confined and enclosed space siya. Kung taxi naka aircon, isarado ang bintana, kana siya confined and enclosed space. Kung abrihan ang bintana, dili na na siya confined and enclosed place kay naa siyay hangin sa gawas nga nagatuyok sa sulod (Jeepneys do not belong to the 3Cs because the majority of them are not enclosed. The L3 (type of PUJ) is air conditioned and that is a confined and enclosed space, the taxi is air conditioned - with a closed window that is an enclosed space. If the windows will be open, it is no longer a confined and enclosed space because the air from the outside circulates to the inside),” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The mayor issued Executive Order (EO) 51 Series of 2021, which adopted the national policy of the mandatory wearing of face shields in areas that are “closed and crowded.”
The World Health Organization has defined the 3Cs as crowded places with many people nearby, close contact settings, especially where people have close-range conversations, and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
EO 51 mandates that face shields must be used in crowded places -- defined as areas where there is a mass gathering of individuals, which include but are not limited to swab sites, vaccination sites, evacuation centers, distribution of assistance, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) voters’ registration.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser on Wednesday, October 27, reiterated the mayor's statement after receiving reports that the traffic enforcers are still advising drivers and passengers to wear face shields.
“Klaro kaayo ang emphasis ni mayor, when it is closed and confined, the face shield is necessary, so gi-define niya didto ang jeepney, ang jeepney dili siya closed and confined kay open man ang windows naay open na free ventilation (It was clearly emphasized by the mayor when it is closed and confined, the face shield is necessary. So she defined there that jeepney - it is not closed and confined, it is open with free ventilation),” Schlosser said.
Schlosser said there is a low risk of spreading the infection since it is open ventilation.
The new guidelines of the mandatory wearing of face shields are in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte's announcement on September 22, 2021, to limit the use of face shields to the 3Cs as recommended by the Technical Advisory Group.
It can be recalled that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 68, s. 2020 dated September 3, 2020, mandates the use of a face shield with a face mask in the following places: supermarkets, public markets, malls; and venues where government-initiated meetings and critical government services are being conducted or provided.