President Duterte has finally approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to make the use of face shields voluntary in areas under alert levels 3, 2 and 1.
A November 15 memorandum by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said face shields would only be required in areas under alert level 5 or granular lockdown. For areas under alert level 5, local government units and private establishments have the discretion to require face shield use.
It is also up to LGUs to decide on face shield use in areas that are still under community quarantine classifications instead of alert levels, except for areas under enhanced community quarantine and granular lockdowns where face shields will be mandatory.
The Department of Transportation on Tuesday also said the wearing of face shields in trains, buses, jeepneys and other public utility vehicles in low-risk areas will no longer be mandatory.
The decision to end mandatory face shield use comes after clamor from the public and some local government officials, which was described as an inconvenience as well as an added financial burden. Over the months, many questions regarding the efficacy of face shields have also been raised, especially as it is not required in most other countries.
The public that has described face shields as an “icon of corruption” during the pandemic, welcomed the development. However, considering the fluid nature of government decisions that are often reversed without prior warning, it may be smart to keep a stock of face shields on hand in case it is suddenly required once more.
Aside from the reprieve from mandatory face shield use being potentially temporary, the public will also need to hold on to the more than 65 million face shields currently in use as we will need to figure out ways to dispose of it safely and properly, without endangering our already fragile environment further. The government that imposed this over the top requirement on the nation must now assume responsibility for the waste this policy has generated and take the lead in providing safe and effective disposal procedures and measures as we transition to a less wasteful era in the country’s pandemic response.*
