Gatchalian seeks unified policy on use of face shields

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to have a clear, unified policy on the use of face shields to avoid public confusion.

Citing different policies by local government units (LGUs) on the use of face shields, Gatchalian said there needs to be a uniform policy on their use, especially if scientific findings establish their effectiveness in mitigating the surge of COVID-19 infections.

"Hindi naman pwedeng pagpunta mo sa Taguig mandatory ang face shield tapos pagpunta mo sa Valenzuela hindi naman pala required. Ang konsepto nga dito ay mabawasan natin yung risk in the entire country. Wala pang patakaran ngayon, and I'm calling on IATF na magkaroon na ng uniformed policy on face shields because people are confused," said Gatchalian.

Though the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued their respective guidelines on the mandatory use of face shields, the IATF is yet to finalize whether the use of face shields will be required in all public places.

Since August 15, the DOTr has required all passengers using public transportation to wear both face masks and face shields, through Memorandum Circular 2020-014. The DTI and the DOLE also issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 20-04-A or the "DTI and DOLE Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19," which mandates the use of face shields as part of public health standards in all workplaces.

"Tignan natin kung ano yung risk reduction ng face shield, then by all means dapat nating ipatupad 'yan. But the next question is affordability. Ang cost ng face shields iba-iba, may 50 pesos may 100 pesos, may 200 pesos and that becomes an affordability issue sa ating mga kababayan," Gatchalian stressed.

Under Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum 2020-0345-A, the suggested retail price (SRP) for face shields is between P26-P50. These are the face shields for community use and are non-medical grade. The DOH memorandum requires that face shields be made of clear plastic or acetate materials that are fog-resistant and can provide good visibility. They may or may not have an adjustable band as long as they are attached firmly around the head and can fully cover the face.

"At this point ang 50 pesos ay malaki na rin lalo na kung bibilihan mo yung buong pamilya mo. It will cost you 300 to 400 pesos so, it becomes an issue," he added.

The DTI, for its part, had said that the SRP for a piece of face shield should not exceed P50.

According to the DOH, face shields should not be used as a substitute for face masks. The DOH added that face shields should only be used with masks as added protection.

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Gatchalian: patakaran sa paggamit ng face shield dapat linawin

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) na linawin ang mga patakaran nito sa paggamit ng face shields. Ito ay upang maiwasan ang kalituhan ng publiko, lalo na't iba-iba ang patakaran ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa paggamit ng face shields.

Kung malinaw ang ebidensyang napipigilan ng face shields ang pagkalat ng COVID-19, kailangang may iisang patakaran ang lahat ng sektor sa paggamit nito, ani Gatchalian.

"Hindi naman pwedeng pagpunta mo sa Taguig nakasauot ka ng face shield tapos pagpunta mo sa Valenzuela hindi naman pala kailangan. Ang konsepto nga dito ay mabawasan natin yung pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa buong bansa. Wala pang patakaran ngayon, kaya hinihimok ko ang IATF na magkaroon ng malinaw na polisiya sa face shields dahil nalilito ang mga tao," pahayag ni Gatchalian.

Kamakailan ay naglabas na ng kani-kaniyang patakaran ang Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), at ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa paggamit ng face shields. Dahil dito, kailangan nang magsuot ang mga mamamayan ng face shield sa mga pampublikong sasakyan at sa kanilang mga trabaho.

Samantala, patuloy namang pinag-uusapan sa IATF kung kakailanganin na ba ang pagsuot ng face shields sa lahat ng mga pampublikong lugar.

Ayon kay Gatchalian dapat ding suriin nang mabuti ang presyo nito lalo na't aabot na ng malaking halaga kapag bumili ng face shields sa lahat ng miyembro ng pamilya. Pero ayon sa DTI at sa Department of Health (DOH), ang suggested retail price ng kada isang face shield ay hindi dapat lalagpas sa limampung piso (P50).

"Ang presyo ng face shields iba-iba, may 50 pesos, may 100 pesos, may 200 pesos at nagiging isyu ito sa ating mga kababayan," ani Gatchalian.

Paliwanag ng DOH, hindi dapat gamitin ang mga face shields bilang pamalit sa mga face masks. Sa halip, dapat itong magsilbing dagdag prokeyson upang maiwasan ang lalong pagkalat ng COVID-19.