Establishments may still compel its employees and clients to wear face shields in their premises as deterrent to the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) left to the establishment owners their discretion to decide on the matter, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said on Saturday, Nov. 20.

“Last minute resolution yan ng IATF nung Huwebes (Nov. 18). Ang kanilang interpretation depende ho sa employer, puwede pa rin nilang irequire mag face shield yung kanilang empleyado at depende rin sa establishments, puwede nila irequire mag face shield yung mga customer na papasok sa kanilang lugar (That was a last minute IATF resolution on Thursday. Their interpretation is it depends on the employer, they can also require their employees to wear face shields and it depends on the establishments, they can require customers to use face shields when entering their premises),’’ Densing explained.

With the IATF face shield ruling, Densing in an interview over GMA News noted that the three Cs (crowded places, close contact, closed areas) regulation will no longer be in effect with the general rule of wearing face shields not mandatory except in establishments which will require them.

“So general rule pa rin yan, kung maglalagay siya ng senyales ang puwede lang pumasok sa aking establishment kailangan naka face shield doon lang isusuot. Pero kung walang mga ganung mga signages ang general rule is no face shield sa (areas under) alert level 1, 2, 3 (So the general rule is if signs are put up that face shields are required when entry that is the only time that it should be worn. But if there are no signs the general rule is no face shields needed in alert 1, 2, 3),’’ he added.

When pressed for the sudden turnaround, Densing in his personal opinion explained that the IATF probably gave credence to the rights of the private entities or individuals that deem it necessary to require face shields for the added protection of their personnel and clients.

To further clarify, Densing noted that establishments under the 3Cs classification may require their employees and customers to wear face shields adding that some people still wear them even when not required.

The DILG official admitted preferring the absolute no face shield requirement rule in alert level 1, 2, 3 areas except in high-risk places after the President issued the ruling and before the IATF came out with its decision to let the establishments decide on it.

On the issue of COVID-19 vaccination, Densing said that so far no show-cause-orders have been issued against the local government units (LGUs) with unsatisfactory inoculation ratings, stressing that the administration of the jabs to the target population has steadily risen.

“Nakamonitor ho kami sa 17 rehiyon. Meron ho kaming mga DILG regional offices diyan so nagsasubmit ho sila (reports) on a regular basis (We are monitoring 17 regions. We have the DILG regional offices there so they submit reports on a regular basis),’’ Densing maintained.

Densing noted that the daily average vaccination rate has breached the one million mark with the target now set at 1.5 million as only a few areas have below par inoculation accomplishments. (Chito A. Chavez)