DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city government would appeal to a national agency to consider the complaints of vehicle drivers that they need to wear face shields while commuting.
This comes after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising Bureau issued respective memoranda on Wednesday calling for public commuters and drivers to wear face shields.
Duterte said in her radio program Friday that the city government has received comments from drivers reacting against the use of face shield while driving as this may hamper their vision while driving and may cause accidents.
She said she will write to the LTFRB to have consideration to the complaints and to come up with alternatives in consideration to road safety.
The LTFRB earlier included the use of goggles for drivers, but had deleted it in their new circular.
The DOTr memorandum circular 2020-014 advises all commuters of public transportation to wear face shields aside from their face masks starting on August 15. Public transportation covers trains, buses, jeepneys, taxis, passenger vessels, and even airplanes.
The DOTr clarified that the new mandate is highly encouraged as additional protection against the spread of coronavirus through respiratory droplets.
The mayor said that while the guidelines under the city’s Modified General Community Quarantine does not state the use of face shields, she advised the public to heed the DOTr’s orders and doctors’ advice.
Duterte said doctors advised the wearing of face shields over masks for people working in enclosed places and in areas where people are constantly dealing with many persons.
“Those who should always wear face shields include our security guards, our waiters and all other people who work and talk closely with others,” the mayor said in her interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio.
Also required to wear face shields all the time are people working in high-risk places like hospitals and laboratories. (davaotoday.com)
