LGUs urged to pass ordinance requiring face shields

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units should pass an ordinance that would mandate wearing face shields aside from face masks to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the general community quarantine, the head of police task force against COVID-19 said on Tuesday.

“Ang ordinance on face shield kakaunti pa lang and we encourage na magkaroon na rin para ma-enforce at magkaroon ng pangil itong IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) guidelines,” Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net when sought for comment about the requirement of face shields.

(There are still few face shield ordinances and we encourage to have ordinances like these to enforce it and add more teeth to the IATF guidelines.)

Currently, the government required wearing face shields for workers and commuters only.

Meanwhile, Eleazar cited that the municipality of Pateros already signed an ordinance requiring all its residents to use face shields on top of face masks when going outside.

“Sa face shield, kasi bago yan kung titignan natin. Iisa pa lang sa pagkakaalam ko sa Pateros, naglabas sila ng ordinance doon. Hindi limited sa workplace and public transport doon talaga kapag nasa labas ka so may basis ngayon para ma-aresto ka o kung may community service,” he said.

(For face shield, since this is new policy, we will see. In Pateros, they signed an ordinance about it. It is not limited to workplace and public transport if you go outside they have a basis for arrest and community service.)

Under Municipal Ordinance 2020-20, Pateros government said those who will not wear face shields outside of their homes will face 12 hours of imprisonment or a fine of P2,000.

JE