If asked, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said he would be more inclined to follow Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Eduardo Año's stand to scrap the mandatory wearing of face shield policy even without approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
He said it is because he and all the mayors are “directly under” the supervision of Año, who apparently backed Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's lifting of the mandatory wearing of face shield policy in his city even without greenlight from the IATF.
"Pero kung talagang gusto igiit... siguro kung ako'y mayor, susundin ko rin si (But if insisted who to follow, if I'm a mayor, I would obey) Secretary Año because we're directly under him," Abalos said Tuesday in an interview with Unang Hirit.
His reaction came after Presidential spokesman Harry Roque described as “null and void” Domago’s move, which was already formalized through an executive order, for being in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by President Duterte.
But Abalos maintained it would be better if Metro mayors wait for the approval of IATF to avoid further confusion.
"Pinakamaganda nalang sguro dito hintayin nalang natin sa Huwebes (It's best that we wait until Thursday)," Abalos said. "Lahat kami mga alkalde ng kalakhang maynila naniniwala na dapat na tanggalin (But all mayors in Metro Manila believe the policy should be scrapped... It's just a matter of one day, two days lang naman itong kalituhan na ito (of confusion)."
"Be it as it may, Secretary Año is right, Secretary Roque has a point. Perhaps, on Thursday (during the IATF meeting) it will all be settled," he added.