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Año backs optional use of face shields except in hospitals
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday backed the mayors of Davao City and Manila after they issued executive orders lifting the mandatory wearing of face shields except in the hospital setting.
Año said the EOs cannot be considered null and void because local government units have the power to issue them.
This is despite the comment of Palace spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday saying those EOs are "null and void
for being in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by the President." The Palace on Monday warned mayors against defying the mandatory face shield policy for crowded and enclosed spaces, saying the policy remained in effect unless the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) says otherwise.“Di naman null and void kasi ang ating mga local government units, the local chief executives, based doon sa ating Local Government Code, specifically Section 16, in order to provide service and protect people, puwede sila mag-enact ng mga ordinansa at executive orders,” Año told reporters at Villamor Airbase during the ceremonies welcoming the arrival of 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
(These [EOs] are not null and void because our local government units, the local chief executives, based on our Local Government Code, specifically Section 16, in order to provide service and protect people, they can enact ordinances and executive orders.)
Año said the vaccination rate is high and the COVID-19 risk is low in the cities of Manila, Davao and Iloilo.
“Look at Metro Manila now — Alert Level 2 at low risk na tayo ngayon. So puwede na 'yang mga ganyan. Actually kino-consider 'yan sa IATF kaya lang kinapos lang ng time sa dami ng issues,” he said.
(Look at Metro Manila now — we are now under Alert Level 2 and at low risk [for COVID-19]. So these things can be done. Actually, the IATF was considering that [lifting the mandatory wearing of face shields except in hospitals] but we ran out of time due to the many issues [that needed to be addressed].)
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Manila Mayor Isko Moreno issued Executive Order No. 42 on Monday which says the use of face shields amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been made non-mandatory in the city except in hospitals, medical clinics and other medical facilities.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio meanwhile issued Executive Order No. 51-A on Nov. 2 that says wearing of face shields in the city will be voluntary under certain conditions, or the so-called 3Cs.
The mayors in the National Capital Region agreed to make the wearing of face shields optional, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos said on Monday.
Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Abalos said they want to keep mandatory the wearing of face shields in hospitals, health centers, and public transportation.
The Department of Health on Monday said it will present on Thursday to the national government its recommendation regarding whether or not to lift the mandatory use face shields amid the COVID-19 pandemic. —Jonathan Andal/KG, GMA News