Laoag City--Residents
here and other areas of Ilocos Norte have started buying face shields in
preparation for the implementation of the Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) order on mandatory wearing inside public transport
beginning August 15, 2020.
Sales of face shields
increased as the provincial government encouraged residents to wear one apart
from a face mask to further lessen the risk of contracting coronavirus disease
2019 (Covid-19).
On August 1, 2020,
LTFRB issued a memorandum circular issued stating that they now require drivers,
conductors and passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in areas across the
country that are under general community quarantine (GCQ) to wear a face shield,
on top of the mandatory wearing of face mask.
The circular also said
commuters' failure to wear a face mask and face shield or eye protector is
reasonable ground to be disallowed in any PUV.
Since the memorandum
was issued, online sellers have noted increase in sales of face shields. Some
of them say they now earn an average profit of PHP1,000 per day from at least
100 face shields priced at PHP35-PHP40 per piece.
“After face masks,
face shields are in demand these days and people are buying in bulk,” said
Joyce Caluducan, an online seller from Bacarra.
Tricycle driver Arnel
Viernes of Brgy. 9, Sta. Angela, this city, said, "wearing of face shields
while driving can be a hassle but it is meant to protect everyone".
"It's for our
protection so we have to abide and cooperate with what our government tells
us,” said Aira Oracion, a commuter from San Nicolas town.
In downtown Laoag,
personnel of the Philippine National Police have intensified the monitoring of
compliance with basic health measures and procedures as required by the
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
(IATF-EID).
Manotoc: Face shields required for PUVs
For his
part, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc reminded residents of the
importance of wearing face shields in public areas, particularly to public
transport drivers and passengers, through a virtual press conference.
“Our uniformed personnel are apprehending violators of
our mask requirement. They are roaming around and they have been ordered to
catch offenders. Sa face shield, we encourage you to wear pero kapag sa public utility vehicle, requirement talaga ito. Also, kapag close proximity, let’s wear face shields,” Mr. Manotoc stressed.
The nationwide mandatory wearing of face shields and face
masks among commuters started on August 15, 2020, in compliance with the
Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Memorandum Circular No. 2020-014. It
applies to all public transportation including aviation and airports, railways,
roads, and marine sectors.
Last May, the DOTr permitted the operation of public
transportation which imposed health safety standards such as the mandatory use
of face masks and gloves for drivers, thorough disinfecting practices of
vehicles, terminals, and passengers, and an order to allow only 50% of the
maximum capacity of the vehicle to practice distancing, among others.
Likewise, Mr. Manotoc reminded online sellers who
excessively increase the price of their face shields to be responsible for
selling:
“Sana maging
responsible and maging ethical sa
pagbebenta. Let us not take this opportunity to take advantage of our kakailian. There’s a corresponding
penalty for overpricing and I don’t think that is worth the risk, so I hope
that you should all be responsible in selling.”
At present, the provincial government continues to
strictly implement other preventive coronavirus measures such as wearing a face
mask, strict enforcement of social distancing measure, and proper hand washing
or hand sanitizing, among others.
‘Overkill’
Meanwhile, in a separate
statement, Sen. Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos said it’s not too late for
the government to modify its mandatory requirement on commuters and employees
to start wearing face shields in addition to face masks starting August 15,
2020.
“It could be localized
or voluntary, but mandatory is an overkill. Which other country has imposed
face shields and made their use with face masks mandatory?” Ms. Marcos stressed.
She also cautioned the
government against profiteers taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the
guise of increasing health protection.
“Identify the
importers and local suppliers of face shields and find out if they have any
connections with officials in the health, transportation, labor, and trade and
industry departments who might profit from their domestic sale,” she said.
“Suddenly, we already
have SRPs (suggested retail prices) for face shields, but no official public
guidelines on product quality and proper labeling to protect consumers. Are
they for single or multiple use, how are they to be cleaned, are materials
inflammable, what precautions must the user take?” she added.
The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has warned that wearing a face mask alone “may
exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency,
or introduce significant safety concerns.”
“Besides the sheer
discomfort, wearing a face shield over a face mask might suffocate those with
medical conditions like high-blood pressure, heart ailments, or asthma? How
long before office and factory workers can take a break after long hours
enduring a lack of oxygen?” Ms. Marcos asked.
“If the virus is
indeed airborne, face shields with open edges may be of little use in
workplaces that are enclosed and where the air that circulates is recycled,” Ms.
Marcos noted. (With a report by Stewart C. Ocampo)
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