WEARING face shields in Cebu Province will now be required only in the 3Cs setting—crowded places, close contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
This, after Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 43 rationalizing the use of face shields within the Province of Cebu on Friday, November 5, 2021.
The EO, which adopted the national policy, will take effect immediately.
On September 22, President Rodrigo Duterte had announced that face shields would not be required to be worn outdoors but only in areas that are identified as 3Cs.
The World Health Organization has defined the 3Cs as crowded places with many people nearby, close contact settings especially where people have close-range conversations, and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
SunStar reported on Thursday, November 4, that Governor Garcia voiced plans to remove the face shield requirement on public transportation in the Province, after hearing reports that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had ordered the scrapping of the face shield requirement on all public utility vehicles in her city.
In Cebu City, Acting Mayor Michael Rama said Friday that he would leave to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) the decision on whether to continue to require the use of face shields inside business establishments.
This is while Rama has not yet issued a new directive regarding the use of the face shields, which has been required since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, but which is no longer required in Davao City.
“I have been telling before that I was very happy that President (Duterte) gave a pronouncement because the (use of the) face shield is very preposterous. Inside establishments, those are not used (properly). They’re being used as headbands. Definitely, we are in favor of that in general, unless there is scientific basis (to use it) in very enclosed areas,” Rama said.
The acting mayor said the times have changed and there are now good ways to manage the pandemic problem.
“We should be more positive and innovative. At the same time, kanang mga Jurassic (those Jurassic measures) have to be set aside and we have to pursue something new so that tomorrow will definitely be something better and perhaps it will become the best for Cebu City,” Rama said.
Felix Taguiam, president of the CCCI, however, said they will not make a decision and will just wait for the order from the Cebu City Government on whether to continue or abolish the mandatory wearing of the face shields within their establishments.
“The chamber does not want to get involved with any medical decision since we are not health professionals. We will just abide by what is approved by EO (executive order) or the DOH (Department of Health). We will wait for the EO to come out,” Taguiam said. (PAC, CLC WITH PR)