Gov’t to decide on face shield policy on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines — The national government will decide on Thursday whether to still require the wearing of face shields or make it voluntary.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the government’s pandemic task force, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will meet on Thursday to discuss the face shield policy.

It will also discuss classifications of other countries — whether they be under the “green”, “yellow”,  or “red” list — to determine the length of quarantine of travelers coming from those countries.

Roque said he is expected to announce the new policies by Friday, explaining that he would wait first for written resolutions before announcing.

“Iba-base ko ‘yan sa printed at written resolution. Hindi ako nag-aanunsyo na walanng written resolution,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(I’m basing the announcements on printed and written resolutions. I don’t make my announcements without those.)

“Mayroon din kasing mga last minute na pahabol na kumento kaya kung mapapansin ninyo, it has been my habit na talagang hinihintay ko na the following day ko ina-announce,” he added.

(There are also last minute policy changes so it’s been my habit to make the announcements on the following day.)

The issue on face shields were revived anew after some local government units, including the capital Manila City, have issued local orders to make the use of face shields “non-mandatory” or “voluntary.”

READ: Palace tells mayors to ‘respect’ process, Duterte on face shield use policy

Roque earlier said these orders are “null” and “void” for going against existing national policy.

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