Palace gives employers, businesses option to require use of face shield

This file photo shows a mural in Singalong district, city of Manila, depicting a man wearing a face shield. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Marianne Bermudez

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is giving employers and establishments the option to still require workers and patrons to wear face shields within their premises.

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles clarified on Friday the earlier government announcement that the use of face shields in areas on COVID-19 Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3 is voluntary.

“As we announced last Tuesday, the use of face shields is now voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 1,2,3… However, in IATF Resolution No. 149, we clarified that the voluntary use of face shields for areas under Alert Levels 1 to 3 is ‘without prejudice to employers still requiring their use for their employees or workers and/or customers in their respective premises’,” Nograles said in a press briefing.

“Kaya pwede pong i-require ng mga employers ang mga empleyado nila mag-face shield sa kanilang workplaces at pwede din pong i-require ng private establishments ang mga customers nila na mag-face shield,” he added.

The requirement to use face shields is within the discretion of employers and private establishments, stressed Nograles.

President Rodrigo Duterte had approved nixing the mandatory use of face shields in areas under COVId-19 Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3, according to a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to the government’s pandemic task force.

KGA