Charles Teves
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has called on the national government to stop requiring the general population from wearing face shields.
The said personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to prevent people from spreading and catching COVID-19. However, it seems the Philippines is the only country requiring its citizens to wear one any time they are out in public.
Domagoso doesn’t agree with this policy, saying that there should be other ways to protect people from being infected with the coronavirus.
“Tayo na lang yata sa buong mundo ang nag-rerequire ng face shield sa kalsada. Dapat pag-isipan uli ito. Marami na tayong natutunan. We should adjust.” he said during the issuance of Safety Seal certification at Robinsons Manila with the DTI and the DILG on Wednesday.
He thinks that face shields should only be worn in hospitals, arguing that the nationwide requirement is hurting the less fortunate.
Medical anthropologist Dr. Gideon Lasco previously noted that other countries were able to decrease their coronavirus cases without having to require face shields.
“It’s time to end the Philippines’ baseless, inconvenient, and environmentally harmful face shield mandate, especially in outdoor spaces where there’s zero evidence of its benefit,” Dr. Lasco said.
What do all countries that have controlled COVID have in common?
They never required face shields.
It's time to end the Philippines' baseless, inconvenient, and environmentally-harmful face shield mandate, especially in outdoor spaces where there's zero evidence of its benefit.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) May 21, 2021
People agreed with Lasco with a number saying that face shields make breathing difficult. Some believe the government is making the use of face shields a business.
Face shields are also made of plastic which could hurt the environment.
