President Rodrigo Duterte will now decide and likely announce the national government's decision on whether to continue mandating face shields to the public, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque, in a media briefing on Friday, said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) already has a decision over the issue and it is now for the approval of Duterte.
"Eh pano po yung face shields? Meron na pong decision pero ito po ay for approval and possibly for announcement by the president himself," said Roque, who is also the spokesperson of the IATF.
(How about face shields? We already have a decision but it is for the approval and possible for announcement by the president himself.)
The face shield mandate recently came under spotlight after Manila Mayor Isko Moreno scrapped them in the capital city.
His move, however, drew warnings from Malacañang and urging from the Department of Health (DOH) to hold such mandates to avoid public confusion.
Metro Manila mayors also agreed to scrap the faceshield mandate, according Metro Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos, and it already recommended its position to the IATF.
Later, the DOH also said it recommended the "voluntary use" of faceshields in areas under Alert Level 2 and other areas considered high risk.
