Some Filipinos still prefer to wear face shields after optional rule for low COVID-19 areas

Some Filipinos said they still prefer to wear face shields for protection against COVID-19, according to a "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman.

This, despite an earlier announcement by Malacanang that wearing of face shield is no longer mandatory in areas placed under Alert Level 1, 2 or 3.

Several commuters and shoppers said that they still want to wear face shields to protect themselves against possible COVID-19 transmission particularly in public transportation and air-conditioned places.

“As a youth, kailangan ko rin po protektahan ang sarili ko. Hindi pa po [bakunado],” a youth commuter said.

(As a youth, I also need to protect myself. I am not yet vaccinated.)

“Proteksyon din po kasi hindi po lahat vaccinated tsaka naka-aircon din po kasi eh hindi naman siya open,” Khaterine Buenafe, a shopper in a supermarket, said.

(It is also a protection because not everyone is vaccinated and some places are also air-conditioned,  not an open space.)

Some Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have different opinions on the optional use of face shields.

“Nadadapa ako eh, nagblublurred yung paningin ko kaya mas maganda na wala,” an OFW said.

(I sometimes trip, it blurs my vision too, so it is better not to wear one.)

“Hanggang nandyan yung virus kasi para sa ating safety,” another OFW said.

(Until there is still a virus, the use of face shields is also for our safety.)

Meanwhile, Baguio City residents agreed to wear face shields only in closed and crowded places.

“Parang wala rin pong gamit kasi katulad po pagpapasok ako ng mga kainan nakasuot po pagdating sa loob po tatanggalin din po,” a resident said.

(It looks like there is no use because when I enter restaurants, the face shield is removed.)

Few residents in Zamboanga City also agreed to still wear face shields for protection against the virus.

“Kasi natatakot pa rin talaga ako, kasi mas masakit magka-COVID-19,” another resident said.

(I am still scared of COVID-19, it is hard to recover from the disease.)

The Philippines is currently under a five-level coronavirus alert system which was first implemented in the National Capital Region.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News