Isko opposes possible reimposition of mandatory face shield policy

Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said the government must think twice on its plans to reimpose the policy on the mandatory use of face shields.

“Kung pagagastusin lang nating ang taumbayan ng wala naman suporta ng siyensya na ito’y nakakatulong, they have to think twice,” Moreno said in an interview after Manila’s commemoration of Andres Bonifacio’s 158th birth anniversary.

(If we will ask the public to spend money on something that is not supported by science, they have to think twice.)

He argued that the government must be “sensitive” to the economic situation of ordinary Filipinos as they have to spend at least P10 per day or P300 to P500 per month to buy face shields.

“We have to be sensitive to our people economically speaking kasi while gusto nating proteksyonan ang buhay, kailangan tingnan din natin ‘yung kabuhayan o ‘yung katayuan ng tao (we want to protect lives, we also need to look at their economic situation),” the mayor said.

“Until science will agree with it that it will give extra protection, siguro ibili na lang natin ng gamot, bumili na lang tayo ng remdisivir, tocilizumab, oxygen, gamit sa hospital (maybe we should use the money instead to buy remdesivir, tocilizumab, oxygen and hospital equipment),” he reiterated.

If possible, the funds intended for the procurement of face shields should be used to build a COVID-19 hospital in preparation for possible surge due to Omicron, Moreno said.

As the new variant was detected in other countries, Moreno said Manila will be vigilant in monitoring any “unnecessary growth” in COVID-19 cases.

He also underscored the need for strict implementation of border control.

“When I say strict, it goes for everyone. The rules apply to everyone: mahirap, mayaman, banyaga, o mga kababayan natin, dapat iisa ang rule, walang special. Baka kasi malusutan tayo  (poor, rich, foreigner, fellow Filipinos. There should be one rule. No one should be treated special) and all we need is one infected person to spread it around,” Moreno said.

The Manila mayor also said that he wants  to open all business establishments during the Christmas season as long as the residents are vaccinated and they follow minimum health protocols.

Meanwhile, the conduct of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January next year is still being assessed considering the Omicron variant.

He said they are on track in the inoculation of children and the administration of booster shots.

“We are still preparing ourselves to this Omicron and we will continue to coordinate with our health sector,” he said.

For now, he said Manila has sufficient medicines which are used to treat COVID-19 patients such as remdisivir, tocilizumab, baracitinib, among others.

On the same day, World Health Organization representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said there is no need for mandatory use of face shield even amid the possible entry of the more transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Earlier, the government said the use of face shields on top of face masks is not mandatory in areas under Alert Level 1, 2 and 3, unless indoor establishments require it.

But National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed support for the reimposition of the mandatory face shield policy amid the threat of the Omicron variant.

Premature

Senatorial aspirant Dr. Minguita Padilla on Tuesday said some government officials’ statements on the possible return of mandatory face shield policy are still “premature.”

“Actually, I think premature ‘yung statement nila that we will have to bring back the face shields. First of all, hindi pa natin alam ang nature nitong new strain,” she said in a press conference with presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

(Actually, I think their statements that we will have to bring back the face shields are premature. First of all, we don't know yet what is the nature of the new strain.)

She also noted that it was” too quick” to say that there is a need for the reimposition of the policy and it creates confusion among the public.

“Tuloy nagtataka ‘yung mga tao. Ano? Ano kayang dahilan? So, maraming malicious na mga comment. So, I think premature, too early ang pagsabi ‘non,” she said.

(People are now wondering about the reason behind these statements and there are lots of malicious comments. So, I think it is still premature to issue statements on that.)

“So, we cannot say it yet. Let’s not jump the gun immediately na (on the policy on) face shields kaagad. So, that’s all I have to say for now. We still have to know more about the virus,” she said.—KG, GMA News