DTI to propose removal of acrylic barrier requirement in establishments

(FILE) Al fresco diners enjoy their meals minding safety and health protocols at the designated outside dining area of restaurants in SM City North Edsa in Quezon City on April 30, 2021. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to propose the removal of the acrylic barriers commonly required in food establishments.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez explained Thursday that the effectiveness of acrylic barriers is “limited.”

“We are proposing for the removal of the acrylic barrier since it has been established that the recent variants like Omicron could also be airborne, thus limiting the effectiveness of acrylic barriers,” Lopez said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“Masking, handwashing, ventilation, and vaccination are more important deterrents for transmission of the COVID virus,” he added.

Removing acrylic barriers will be even more possible once areas shift to less restrictive Alert Level 1.

Lopez said he will raise the proposal with the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In January, American aerosol scientist Prof. Jose-Luis Jimenez of the University of Colorado-Boulder urged the country to drop its plexiglass barriers requirement in establishments and instead rely more on protective masks and proper ventilation.

/MUF