Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he is leaving it to experts' guidance on the removal of mandatory faceshield policy amid calls from local authorities to scrap the rule.
"Malalaman natin yan sa Huwebes, pag-uusapan yan, pakikinggan natin yung mga experts natin, sila naman ang gumagabay sa desisyon ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) patungkol sa laban sa COVID-19," Duque told DZRH in an interview.
(We will find out on Thursday. It will be talked about, we will listen to experts natin, since they are the ones guiding the decision of the IATF on the fight against COVID-19.)
The health secretary said the public will find out whether to make faceshields voluntary under Alert Level 2, or will its enforcement be "risk-based" depending on corresponding alert levels.
"Makikita natin kung ito ba ay gagawin voluntary na lamang under Alert Level 2, gagawin bang risk-based ibig sabihin pagka nag-level 3, level 4 kailangan ibalik natin. Meron dapat mga ganung panuntunan," he explained.
(We will find out if faceshields will be voluntary under Alert Level 2, or if it will be risk-based, meaning when we return to level 3, level 4, we will bring it back. There have to be guidelines.)
Metro Manila mayors are recommending the lifting of mandatory faceshield policy across the region citing high vaccination rates and decreasing number of COVID-19 cases, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos.
The city of Manila already took a bold step forward by scrapping the policy on Monday except in medical settings.
The Department of Health previously called on local government units to hold their decision to ease the mandatory policy in order to avoid confusion among the public.
