Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it is up to the local government units to come up with a legislation clearly defining who are exempted from the face shield policy.
“That would really depend on the ordinance,” Roque said in a media briefing on Thursday when asked if there are plans to formalize exceptions to the rule in order to avoid arbitrary apprehension.
“We are relying on the ordinances passed by the local government units,” he continued, noting the country’s COVID-19 inter-agency task force has no legislative powers.
An exception, as earlier stated by the Department of Health, are cyclists and other users of non-motorized transport, due to the possible vision impairment face shields bring.
In the absence of an ordinance, however, Roque said he believes law enforcers would use their common sense.
“I don’t think law enforcement will hold it against you if you’re running or bicycling na walang shield [without a face shield], given that you’re engaged in a non-contact sport anyway,” he said.
“So, I think there’s also an element of common sense,” he added.
Half a year since the government imposed the mandatory use of face shields outdoors, the rule is still being met with resistance, as critics question its effectiveness in curbing COVID-19 transmission.
For his part, Roque reiterated the Philippine Medical Association’s statement that compliance with the policy, along with other minimum health standards such as the wearing of face masks, can help protect the public from infection.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said dropping the face shields would only be possible if at least half of the country’s 110 million population have received an anti-coronavirus shot.
Government data as of June 8 show some 4.49 million people nationwide have been vaccinated against COVID-19, including 1.6 million who have already received their second dose.
