Malacañang has asked local chief executives to continue implementing the face shield policy until the government's pandemic task force has decided to no longer make the wearing of the supposed anti-coronavirus (COVID-19) equipment mandatory.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Metro Manila mayors agreed to no longer require face shields in the National Capital Region (NCR), with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno being the first local chief executive to issue an order requiring face shields in medical facilities only.
In his press briefing on Monday, November 8, Roque appealed to the different local government units (LGUs) to wait for the decision of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the issue.
He reminded them that IATF policies are ratified by President Duterte and should be implemented.
"Lahat po ng mga mayor eh (All mayors are) under the control and supervision of the President in the Executive Branch of government at ang desisyon naman po ng IATF ay desisyon din ng ating Presidente (and the decision of the IATF is the decision of the President)," Roque said.
"The order of the President through the IATF is ipatupad pa rin ang pagsusuot ng ating mga face shields (is to enforce the wearing of face shields)," eh said.
The Palace official, meanwhile, assured the mayors that the IATF is studying the use of face shields against COVID-19.
"Pero 'wag po kayo mag-alala, pinag-aaralan naman po 'yan at baka naman po ma-lift na 'yan (But don't worry. The IATF is studying it so it may be lifted soon)," Roque said.
"Konting pasensya lang po pero kailangan sundin naman po natin ang chain of command sa Executive Branch of government (We ask for your patience but we need to follow the chain of command in the Executive Branch of government)," he added.
In June, President Duterte said he preferred that people only be required to wear face shields in hospitals. However, the government’s pandemic task force was opposed to easing the rules on wearing face shields and appealed that the rule be kept, especially indoors.
After the Department of Health (DOH) reported that a total of 17 individuals got infected by the Delta variant on June 21, Duterte decided to keep the wearing of face shields mandatory both indoors and outdoors again.
In September, Duterte finally lifted the mandatory requirement on the use of face shields outdoors, except in closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings.