Face shields to be mandatory for commuters

Commuters will soon be adding the wearing of face shields—aside from facemasks—as part of their daily requirement when taking public transportation, the Department of Transportation announced.

Effective August 15, passengers of any mode of public transportation will be required to wear face shields, as stated in a memorandum circular issued by the transportation department last Tuesday (August 4).

The said order was issued through its Administrative Service for all officials and heads of its various transportation sectors to enjoin within their respective jurisdictions.

The latest memorandum is targeted to decrease the possible transmission of the dreaded COVID-19, as the agency is noting the use of face shields and masks cuts possible emission of droplets that might contain the virus.

“Sa mga kababayan ’ho natin, huwag sana nating isipin na panibagong gastusin o dagdag abala ang pag-require natin sa paggamit ng face shield. Let us remember that no amount of protection is too much when it comes to health and safety, especially that we are battling an invisible enemy. What we are addressing is not a transport issue but rather a health issue. Kaya nga ‘ho  hinihingi ko ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The latest directive covers all public transportation, which involves aviation and airports, railways, road, and maritime sectors.

“Ipatutupad po natin ang mandatong ito sa lahat ng pampublikong sasakyan tulad ng sa mga tren, bus, jeepney, taxi, passenger vessels at maging sa eroplano. I will not elaborate more on the practical benefits the face shield offers, but we know that the use of face coverings and masks for superior protection is adopted widely,” DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Artemio Tuazon Jr. said.

Further, Tuazon noted that that the face shields should be able to cover the nose and mouth.

“Mayroon po kasing mga tinatawag na visor, goggles, o ‘yung iba pang protective eyewear that only encloses the eye area. We advise that our passengers use the ones that cover the whole face. It’s actually meant as a redundancy of the protection of the face mask,” Tuazon noted.

The newest order will add to the string of safety nets that the government has in place, such as the mandatory wearing of face mask, social distancing measures, regular handwashing and hand sanitizing.

Moreover, using mobile phones while inside public transportation is also discouraged.

Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV

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