The city government of Davao has released a modified Executive Order (EO) on the use of face shields in Davao City.
EO No. 51 Series of 2021, otherwise known as “An Order Providing For The Guidelines On The Use of Face Shields” was signed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on September 30, 2021, ordering that face shields shall only be used in crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces (3Cs).
E.O. No. 51 mandates that face shields must be used in crowded places – defined as areas where there is a mass gathering of individuals, which include but are not limited to swab sites, vaccination sites, evacuation centers, distribution of assistance, and Comelec voters’ registration.
The new order, which was to take effect immediately, cited President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s announcement on September 22, 2021, to limit the use of face shields to the 3Cs as recommended by the Technical Advisory Group. The President has earlier extended the State of Calamity in the country until September 12, 2022, via Presidential Proclamation 1218.
The new EO also repealed or modified EO No. 65-A series of 2020, known as “An Order Consolidating all the Issuances on the Use of Face Shields and all other orders or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.”
On September 3, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 68, s. 2020 mandated the use of a face shield with a face mask in the following places: supermarkets, public markets, malls; and venues where government-initiated meetings and critical government services are being conducted or provided.
Last year, the city through EO 65-A series of 2020, also required its employees and clients/visitors to wear a face shield and face mask inside their buildings and rooms.
Mayor Sara said the wearing of face shields in public places corresponded with the prior guidelines issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment DOLE, which compel private establishments to enforce the wearing of face shields with face masks in workplaces to help contain the Covid-19.
