President Duterte said he has approved the recommendation to lift the mandatory wearing of face shields in almost all areas in the country but said face masks will forever remain while the coronavirus (COVID-19) is still around.

Duterte made the statement after Malacañang issued an order that limits the use of face shields to areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Alert Level 5, granular lockdown, and medical and quarantine facilities.

In his pre-recorded address on Monday evening, November 15, Duterte said that the public can now do away with face shields but not with face masks.

"Ang desisyon ko is, okay tanggalin na ninyo yung shield. Pwede na ninyong (My decision is okay, you can now remove your shields), you dispense the shield but not the mask," he said.

"Yung mask will forever remain and it will be part of our day-to-day safety measures kasi matagal pa itong virus na nasa hangin lang (because the virus which is airborne will be here for a long time)," he added.

According to the President, while the COVID-19 positivity rate in the country continues to come down, it was up to the people to make sure it will stay that way.

"It's up to us to take care na 'di tataas uli (that our cases will not increase again)," Duterte said.

"You have to obey what the government will tell you to do because it's for the good of the country and for you. Sumunod lang kayo (Just obey)," he added.

Based on a Palace order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the following guidelines on the use of face shields are to take effect immediately:

• For areas under Alert Level 5 and granular lockdowns, the use of face shields in community settings shall be mandatory
• For areas under Alert Level 4, local government units (LGUs) and private establishments are given the discretion to mandate the use of face shields
• For areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1, the use of face shields shall be voluntary

Meanwhile, as the government is yet to fully implement the Alert Levels System nationwide, LGUs that are not yet under the new pandemic response system shall have the discretion to mandate the use of face shields except in areas under ECQ and those under granular lockdown where it shall remain mandatory.

Regardless of community quarantine classifications, the use of face shields will remain mandatory in medical and quarantine facility settings. Medical workers are also still required to use face shields in healthcare settings.

In June, President Duterte said he preferred that people only be required to wear face shields in hospitals but eventually decided to keep it due to the Delta variant.

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.