Palace on face shield use policy: Hindi puwede ang kanya-kanya

Malacañang on Tuesday said local government units that will defy the government's policy on mandating the use of face shields in crowded and indoor spaces are setting a bad example to the public.

"Idaan natin sa proseso dahil kung hindi, magkakanya-kanya ang ating mga kababayan, mababalewala ang IATF. Paano susunod ang ating mga kababayan kung iyong mga mayor mismo ay hindi sumusunod?" presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

(If we will not follow the process of decision-making, the public will go on their own way and disregard the IATF decisions. How can the public follow the rules when the mayors are defying it?) 

IATF refers to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government's policy-making body in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Hindi puwede na kanya-kanya sa panahon ng pandemya. Maliban sa batas, irespeto natin ang desisyon ng Presidente dahil ang desisyon ng Presidente ay desisyon ng IATF," Roque added.

(We can't go our own ways during a pandemic. Aside from being the law, we should respect the President's decision because the decision of the President is the decision of the IATF).

Roque was responding to the statement of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año that local executives are allowed to make policies, such as optional use of face shields, in their areas of jurisdiction, in accordance with the Local Government Code.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte first implemented a policy of making the use of face shield non-mandatory. The city governments of Iloilo and Manila followed suit.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he will keep the use of face shield non-mandatory in the city despite the warning of Malacañang, and urged those "unhappy" with his policy to bring the matter to court.

"If they are not happy, they can go to court and ask for declaratory relief," he said. "But our decision will stay."

Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, said the City Council will discuss the issue on Tuesday.

The local governments in Metro Manila have agreed to drop the mandatory use of face shield except in hospital settings.

Roque said the issue on whether or not to lift the mandatory use of face shields will be discussed in an IATF meeting on Thursday, November 11.  —KBK, GMA News