Face shields are no longer required in Manila, other NCR mayors eyeing to scrap face shield policy

Metro Manila mayors will be recommending to scrap the mandatory wearing of face shields to the pandemic national task force, said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos.

Abalos said NCR mayors agreed that requiring the use of face shields will be limited to "critical areas" such as hospitals, health centers, and public utility vehicles.

Meanwhile, in Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno has already begun lifting the policy in the nation's capital, effective Nov. 8. He stressed that wearing face masks is still a must and that scrapping the policy would help lessen people's spending

"Ang kailangan na lang natin gawin ay mag-mask, para kahit paano maibsan ang inyong gastusin dahil sa face shield na yan. Kailangan ko ang kusang disiplina niyo. Magpabakuna kayo," Moreno said.

Manila mayor Isko Moreno signs an executive order making the use of faceshields non-mandatory in the city, except in hospital/medical settings. | via @mjaysoncayabyab pic.twitter.com/GO0oRR1ZqN

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) November 8, 2021

As for other metro cities, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said on Twitter that the "national government will release a memo on this very soon."

On Nov. 5, the Department of Health said that it supports the easing of face shield use in areas with low COVID-19 transmission but said that it needed more time to reevaluate evidence before making a formal recommendation to the IATF.