Face shields only while in hospitals

Senate president, Vicente “Tito” Sotto, confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte (PRRD) has agreed that face shields should only be used in hospitals, after a meeting with the chief executive last night.

“Last night, the President agreed that face shields should only be used in hospitals,” Sotto said in his social media account.

According to Sotto, the meeting was held in Malacañang together with other lawmakers where they were allowed to remove their face shields. Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) has said that face shields may be removed when outside and there is really no specific penalty for doing so. The Philippines is currently the only country in the world to require wearing of face shields when out in public.

What’s in it for motorcycle riders?

While it is already established that motorcycle riders and other active transport users are not required to wear face shields while riding, the national government’s requirement for the public to wear their face shield while outside has caused some confusion among local government units (LGUs), sometimes penalizing cyclists and motorcyclists for not wearing their shields, despite having helmets on.

With the President’s himself not requiring face shields in public, it’s just a matter of time before a proper document from the IATF will finally put an end to these misinformed apprehensions by some enforcers who are still confused with the current protocols.

duterte face shield motorcycle safety