Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) – Cebu City has joined other areas easing rules on the use of face shields as the local government now only requires residents to wear them in medical facilities and air-conditioned public utility vehicles.
The new directive, signed by acting Cebu City mayor Michael Rama on Nov. 9 and released on Wednesday, limits the use of face shields to hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and other medical facilities.
Commuters must also wear a face shield while in public utility vehicles, except in traditional jeepneys where there are open windows and good ventilation.
The local government said the decision was made after the city’s multi-sectoral convergence group met to discuss observations “on the manner people utilized face shields in various settings.”
“It was confirmed that face shields were usually not properly worn but just fashionably displayed as head gear for compliance purposes,” the order stated.
The change in rules also came following the clamor among residents to scrap the policy in malls, among other areas. Rama himself described the wearing of face shields as “preposterous.”
Last week, Davao City issued an order making the use of face shields optional. Earlier this week, Manila City also scrapped the requirement except in hospital settings.
However, the Department of Health has urged local governments to wait for the Inter-Agency Task Force’s official recommendation on the matter.
CNN Philippines’ Cebu-based Correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report.
