Pacquiao lauds lifting mandatory use of face shield

FILE PHOTO: World boxing champ-turned-politician Senator Manny Pacquiao at the Senate floor on March 23, 2020. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB Files)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday welcomed the decision to lift the mandatory use of face shields in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and lower, reiterating the absence of scientific and statistical evidence for its efficacy against the transmission of coronavirus.

“We are thankful that President Duterte has finally decided to lift the face shield requirement and make it optional in areas considered as low-risk for COVID,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

He then underscored that face shields also place an additional burden – being a “big hassle” – on the public.

“Hindi lamang malaking hassle kundi nagiging sanhi ng peligro itong face shield (not only is it a big hassle but it also poses danger),” said Pacquiao.

“Wala rin namang maipakitang scientific basis o kahit statistical research man lang na itong face shield ay nakakatulong upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID,” he added.

(There is no scientific basis or even statistical research that proves face shields help prevent the spread of COVID.)

On Monday, the Palace announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation to remove the policy that requires the use of face shields in areas under COVID-19 Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3. The face shield should still be worn, however, inside medical facilities.

Currently, Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until November 30.

Under Duterte’s order, however, the mandatory wearing of face shields would remain in areas under Alert Level 5 – the highest classification in the government’s five-tier alert level system — and in areas on granular lockdown.

In areas on Alert Level 4, on the other hand, the directive gives the local government units the discretion to require their constituents to use face shields or not.

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