Manila Mayor Isko Moreno remained firm on his executive order scrapping the face shield requirement across the capital, despite warnings from Malacañang against his directive.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday that the national government's mandatory face shield rule will remain enforced unless the COVID-19 task force says otherwise.
"Mayors are under the supervision of the President. Let us follow the chain of command," said Roque.
In response, Moreno said that the presidential spokesman is "entitled to his opinion."
"As far as the Local Government Code is concerned, it is within the power of the local chief executive under Section 16, the general welfare clause. His opinion is as good as mine," he said in a statement.
Section 16 cited by Moreno states that local government units "shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare."
Moreno stressed that they were elected by the public to take care of the population.
"We, the local government unit and all other elected official, have a responsibility to take care of our people. Kami (ang) binoto ng mga tao. Sila, inupo lang ng mga kung sino," he said.
(We are elected by the people. They are only appointed by someone.)
The Manila mayor added that he is also not concerned about being charged for his actions and that the government can try and no one can stop them.
The Department of Health also urged local government units to hold their decision to ditch face shields in order to avoid confusion.
But Moreno further justified his order, saying that the people of Manila "deserve some ease."
"Pinagbigyan ko na sila, matagal na panahon. Puro sila analyze and paralyze. I think it’s high time for the people of Manila to benefit from the vaccination. The people paid the price already. At the very least, ang matanggap nila ngayon is kaluwagan," he said.
(I already gave them time. All they do is analyze and paralyze. I think it's high time for the people of Manila to benefit from the vaccination. The people paid the price already. At the very least, they can get relief.)
Manila is the first city across the National Capital Region (NCR) to ditch face shields, but other NCR mayors have also agreed to scrap them, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos.
Abalos said the NCR mayors will recommend the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases the removal of mandatory face shields except in critical areas.
