PLASTIC PROTECTION Commuters with face masks and face shields ride a bus in Quezon City. —RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The wearing of face masks both indoors and outdoors is still mandatory.
In an official statement of Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte said that face shields must be worn, whether outdoors or indoors, by everyone.
In a Twitter post that was completely contradictory to a statement he issued hours ago, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said wearing face shields will remain mandatory as declared by the President.
“Acting on the advice of health experts and in view of the Delta variant, PRRD declared that the wearing of face shields, both indoor and outdoor, is still mandatory,” he said.
During a Palace briefing the same day, Roque said there’s no need to wear face shields outside, except in public transportation and crowded places like public markets.
He said the only contention on face shields is their use in indoor places such as malls and other commercial establishments, but wearing them outdoors is clearly no longer required.
“Ang malinaw po ganito, hindi na kinakailangan ng face shield sa labas kasi hindi naman inapela ‘yan ng IATF,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
(What is clear is this, the wearing of face shields is no longer required outdoors because the IATF did not appeal.)
“Ang inapela lang ng IATF ay ‘yung pagsuot ng face shields sa loob kasama na sa mga malls at iba pang commercial establishments at sa mga pampublikong transportasyon,” he added.
(What the IATF appealed to is wearing face shields indoors such as malls and other commercial establishments and public transportation.)
Roque earlier said the President would discuss the issue on his regular public address “Talk to the People” on Monday night.
However, he announced the face shield rule even though the address has yet to be aired.