Pacquiao urges gov’t to lift mandatory use of face shields

Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao and his running mate former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza share a breakfast with officials of Barangay San Lorenzo in Makati City led by Chairman Ernesto Moya. Over breakfast, Pacquiao told the barangay officials that he will push for a greater devolution of power to local government units.

Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Monday welcomed the decision of the government to relax the quarantine level in Metro Manila and in other areas as this would allow businesses to bounce back and restore investment confidence in the country.

According to Pacquiao, the government should also completely scrap the face shield requirement because it is only an added burden to Filipinos.

“Dapat wala na talaga yang face shield. Wala naman talagang batayan na nakakatulong talaga yan. Yung facemask ang i-require pero dapat yang faces hield optional na lang. Yung face shield naging symbol lang ng corruption yan eh,” Pacquiao said.

Another option, Pacquiao said, is to allow local governments to decide on whether or not to require the use of face shields within their jurisdiction.

Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao and his running mate former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza shares breakfast with the barangay officials of the posh Brgy. San Lorenzo in Makati City led by Chairman Ernesto Moya. Over breakfast, Pacquiao told the barangay officials that he will push for a greater devolution of power to local government units.

He said relaxing the quarantine requirement to level 2 would allow businesses to recoup their losses because of the quarantine lockdowns that forced them to either reduce production or completely close shops.

He stressed however that while he supports the government’s move to ease its quarantine restrictions, business establishments should observe strict social distancing and contact tracing protocols.

He added the government should increase its capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines to a greater number of people by allowing procurements by private businesses and local government units.

“The key in effectively fighting COVID is vaccination and contact tracing, not face shield, ” Pacquiao said.

Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao and his running mate former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza shares breakfast with the barangay officials of the posh Brgy. San Lorenzo in Makati City led by Chairman Ernesto Moya. Over breakfast, Pacquiao told the barangay officials that he will push for a greater devolution of power to local government units.

Pacquiao also urged the government to take a serious look at the potential of various pills that promise cure for COVID-19 such as the anti-viral drug molnupiravir which was developed by pharmaceutical firm Merck.
Pacquiao said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should exert extra efforts “to explore the possibility of testing these drugs and make them available if proven to be effective in controlling the spread of the deadly coronavirus.”

Like the vaccine, the government should fund the procurement of these pills and distribute them to the public for free, Pacquiao added.

Pacquiao and his running mate former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza on Monday shared a breakfast with officials of Barangay San Lorenzo in Makati City led by Chairman Ernesto Moya. Over breakfast, Pacquiao told the barangay officials that he will push for a greater devolution of power to local government units.