Metro Manila Mayors expressed favor on the lifting of mandatory face shield use except in critical areas like hospitals and public transportation.
This was the agreement of Metro Manila mayors in their meeting on Nov. 7, which will be recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) which decides on COVID-19 policies.
“Para sa amin, pati sa mga malls wala nang faceshield. It’s just maging voluntary nalang kung gusto niyo maglagay. It’s a matter of personal choice ganoon na lang,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos said.
Malacaῆang on Monday (Nov. 8) said the national government has yet to decide on the matter, but the current policy to wear the shield remains before a new rule is made.
However, the city government of Manila issued Executive Order No. 42 which lifts the mandatory wearing of the equipment in the nation’s capital, except in medical facilities.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his Nov. 8 briefing that the EO signed by Mayor Isko Moreno is “null and void for being in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by the President himself in the exercise of police powers.”
“Pinag-aaralan naman po iyan at baka naman ma-lift na ‘yan. Kaunting pasensya lang po, pero kinakailangan sundin naman po natin ‘yung chain of command,” he said.
“Lahat po ng Mayor ay under po the control and supervision of the President in the executive branch of government. At ang desisyon naman po ng IATF ay desisyon din ng Presidente,” he added.
The Department of Health (DOH) is set to present on Thursday (Nov. 11) their recommendation with experts to the IATF on the matter.
“Until we can have the IATF resolution, we urge all local governments to just hold their executive orders or issuances so that we can all be uniform in all our implementation, and we are all aligned,” she said. – Report from Karen Villanda/AG- bny
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