Senators call for consistent messaging on face shield policy

Senators on Tuesday told the Executive Department to be consistent in releasing statements on COVID-19 policies following the confusion caused by different announcements on the mandatory use of face shields in public.

In a video statement, Senator Joel Villanueva explained that government policies are “multi-faceted.”

“Sana naman po hindi nakailang-ulit na about-face sa ating policy. Kapag ang resulta ay tanggal-suot, nakakalito na,” he said.

[If only we haven't had repeated about-faces on this policy. If the result is remove, then put on, it's confusing.]

“Policy matters. Para hindi rin nakakalito, sana po pakiusap natin na isang tao lamang ang nagsasalita for consistency in announcing a rule which carries a fine or penalty in some areas which many of our people find it hard to understand,” he added.

[Policy matters. So that we will not be confused, we ask the government to assign one person who will issue a statement, for consistency in announcing a rule which carries a fine or penalty in some areas where many of our people find it hard to understand.]

Villanueva further pointed out that law enforcers can easily impose the government’s directives if the policies being announced are clear.

'Practice what we preach'

Senator Nancy Binay also called for consistency not only in announcing the policies, but also with the national leaders’ compliance with the rule.

“So sa akin din siguro, dapat may consistency din sa messaging. There is a disconnect sa messaging if we require ‘yung ordinaryong kababayan natin to wear face shield pero may nakikita din naman tayo, na those supposed to be implementing that guideline, na hindi nagsusuot ng face shield,” she said.

[There should be consistency in messaging. There is a disconnect in messaging if we require the ordinary Filipinos to wear face shields but we see those who were supposed to be implementing that guideline are not wearing face shields.]

“So, number one ‘yung consistency in messaging and kumbaga, let us practice what we preach,” she added.

[So number one, there should be consistency in messaging and also, let us practice what we preach.]

Binay also said she is not keen to support the mandatory use of face shields in public.

Moreover, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III wanted the government to explain the science behind the mandatory use of face shields.

Like Binay, Pimentel underscored that the Philippines is the only country in the world that require face shield even outdoors.

“Hence our ‘experts’ advising the government must know something that the experts in other countries do not know. Let government explain to the people why the face shield is needed to combat COVID-19 based on science,” he said.

“Let us not allow the face shield to be just another requirement to be used to regulate behavior under pain of penalty for not following requirements. Government should explain the science behind this decision as best as it could,” he added.

On Monday night, Senate President Vicente Sotto III slammed the continued mandatory use of face shields in public.

"So-called health experts daw says face shields will remain, everywhere! Now I know why the Handling of the pandemic is not good!" Sotto tweeted.

It was Sotto who first announced that Duterte agreed that face shields should only be used in hospitals.

"Last night, the President agreed that face shields should only be used in hospitals. Allowed us to remove ours! Attn DOH!" Sotto said in a tweet.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed Sotto’s statement, saying the President’s decision is considered policy.

On Monday, Roque announced in his press briefing that face shields are not mandatory worn outdoors unless a person is in a crowded area.

Then just hours later, Roque said Duterte has directed that face shields are again mandatory indoors and outdoors as more cases of Delta variant were detected in the country.

On Tuesday afternoon, Roque said there is nothing wrong in “flip-flopping” on government policies as long as there are “supervening events.”

The Delta variant, first detected in India, is 60% more transmissible, according to health experts. The Philippines has recorded 17 cases of the Delta variant so far. — BM, GMA News