Duterte has the power to change face shield policy –League of Provinces

President Rodrigo Duterte has the power to require the wearing of face shields on top of face masks only in hospitals, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said Saturday.

LPP President and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. made the remark days after Malacañang said Duterte’s statement on face shields is considered policy.

“‘Yan po ‘yung binigay na power ng Congress sa ilalim ng Republic Act 11494 na and Presidente po ay pwede pong mag-impose ng ganyang mga regulasyon patungkol po sa COVID-19,” he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

(This is the power that Congress gave to the President under RA 1149, that the President can impose such regulations regarding COVID-19.)

“Ang power po ay nasa presidente at siya po ‘yung bahala na mag-dispose nung ganyang COVID-19 response and recovery intervention,” he added.

(The power is in the President’s hands and he can decide to dispose of such COVID-19 responses and recovery intervention.)

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), meanwhile, recommended the continued mandatory wearing of face shields in enclosed and indoor spaces such as hospitals, schools, workplaces, and commercial establishments.

The Health Department also called for the continued use of shields, reiterating that it is not yet time to drop their use as the country’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage remains low.

Velasco, however, said the IATF cannot contradict Duterte’s decision.

“Sa tingin ko po… ay syempre po ang power ay nasa pangulo at hindi po. palagay ko, hindi po nila puwedeng kontrahin ‘yun kasi ang power ay binigay sa president at hindi sa IATF,” he said.

(I think the power is with the President and they could not contradict him because Congress gave him the power and not the IATF.)

OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said that the use of face shields will help prevent the transmission of the illness.  — DVM, GMA News