The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said wearing of face shields inside all public transportation in areas under Alert Level 1, 2, and 3 will no longer be mandatory.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on the following protocols:
- Face shields are mandatory in areas under Alert Level 5
- Local government units (LGUs) and private establishments are given discretion to mandate the use of face shields
- The use of face shields shall be voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1
DOTr representative to the IATF-EID and Undersecretary for Administrative Services Artemio Tuazon Jr. said the Transportation Department will immediately enforce the protocols on the use of face shields.
“In line with the directive issued by the IATF, which was also approved by the Palace, wearing of face shields in areas, where Alerts Level 1, 2 and 3 are in place, is no longer mandatory. It will be voluntary,” said Tuazon.
To recall, all passengers in any mode of public transportation were required to wear face shields, aside from face masks, effective August 15, 2020.
Meanwhile, despite the lifting of the mandatory use of face shields, the DOTr said stringent preventive measures remain in effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all public transport facilities.
These include the mandatory wearing of face mask, strict enforcement of the social distancing measure, and frequent sanitation.
Talking and eating are likewise discouraged inside all public transportation. — RSJ, GMA News
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