Vice President Leni Robredo said on Monday, November 8, the government should provide more funds for the procurement of additional vaccines instead of spending money to buy face shields.
Robredo, who is running for president in 2022, was asked about the mandatory use of face shields.
In reply, she questioned the continued requirement on the wearing of face shield as it remains an issue in the country at this point in time.
“Ako, sa totoo lang, medyo naasiwa ako na at this point, issue pa din sa atin iyong face shield (For me, to be honest, I’m annoyed at this point, the face shield is still an issue to us),” she said in a media briefing.
“Imbes sana na pagkakagastusan natin iyon, idagdag na lang natin sa pondo sa bakuna (Instead of spending money for that, let us add our budget for vaccines),” Robredo stressed.
Mayors in Metro Manila are in support of the removal of the face shield use policy except in “critical places,” according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos.
READ: Metro mayors agree to scrap use of face shields — MMDA
They will recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to lift the order for the mandatory use of face shields in the capital region, he said.
Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso announced on the same day that face shields are no longer mandatory in Manila City except in medical settings.
READ: Manila Mayor Isko's anti-face shield order may be 'null and void', says Roque
Former Department of Health (DOH) secretaries Esperanza Cabral and Manuel Dayrit, who were present in the briefing held by Robredo, favor the proposal to drop the face shield requirement.
Under the current policy, wearing of face shields is no longer required in outdoor spaces, but those in indoor establishments such as malls and restaurants, people are still required to wear them.
“Para sa akin, puwede nang walang face shield. Gumamit lang ng mask (For me, you may not wear a face shield. Just wear a mask),” Dayrit said.
Cabral also told reporters she agreed with this.