ILOILO City – After Malacañang announced on Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte maintained the mandatory wearing of face shields in both outdoor and indoor settings, Western Visayans had various reactions.
“Okay gid nga may face shield para layo sa balatian kag dugang ang proteksyon,” said Dennis Gaben, a laborer from Barangay Compania, Molo district.
Since the national government first required the use of face shields in public, Gaben said he has been compliant.
“Wala ko ginakakas ang face shield ukon ang eye protection ko kay delikado daan sa amon obra kay everyday lain-lain nga mga tawo ang naka-atubang ko,” he added.
Aside from the face coverings, he said, he also made sure physical distancing and frequent hand sanitation are in place.
For Rodolfo Uy of Barangay General Hughes here, “Kinahanglan pa naton nga magsuksok sang face shield kay damo pa ang aton COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases.”
He added: “Siguro sa lugar nga wala cases puede nga wala na sang face shield.”
Uy said persons wearing face shields could be much safer than those who did not.
“Kon damo tawo kag gutok, maayo gid kon may face shield para sigurado nga wala sang virus nga makatapik sa imo kay may tabon nawong mo,” he noted.
A mother from Arevalo district agreed.
“Yes because this is for our safety, especially sa akon kay permi ‘ko naga guwa para mag bakal pagkaon sang mga bata ko,” said Leoney Cabasag.
She said everyone should be extra careful at all times.
“Dapat naka-facemask kag face shield gid kita,” she added.
Meanwhile, Jose Ivan Facula of Pototan, Iloilo, a realtor, also pointed out that with his job, “need ko gid.”
“Bisan mabudlay kay indi maayo kis-a ang breathing mo galing wala man ‘ta mahimo kay mando ina sang gobyerno,” he said. “We have to follow kon ano ang gusto sang gobyerno para mapalayo kita nga magka-COVID-19.”
Some individuals, however, have thumbed down the mandate.
“Sa hospital lang masuksok sang face shield kay damo ang makasalamuha nga lain-lain nga mga tawo… nga nagamasakit,” said Jomarie Jenon of Barangay Monica Blumentritt here.
Once a COVID-positive, Jenon said face shields need not be mandatory.
“Kon maggwa ka man lang sa balay mo indi na guro kinahanglan kay mahangin man kag open space kag grabe man ang init,” he added.
Maine Camacho of Iznart Street here said authorities should be stricter in enforcing the rule “kay wala man nasunod sang mga tawo.”
“Tuluka bala palibot kon nasuksuk nila face shield nila kay wala,” Camacho said.
An entrepreneur from Tigbauan, Iloilo said authorities should also look into other alternatives like eye glasses.
“Kabudlay kay naga-moist vision ko kung mag pusnga kag example mag drive baw ewan budlay gid. Okay man ‘na nga i-mandatory basta pwede nga eye glass lang if wala face shield,” said Maricel Dy.
Japz M., a saleslady from Kalibo, Aklan, said “indi sia dapat mandatory because ang iban gakasamad ang mata dahil sa face shield.”
She added: “Like sa amon kay everyday eight hours gid nga suksok. For me, facemask is enough kag depende naman ‘na sa paghalong sang isa ka tawo.”
To note, on Monday, Duterte already made clear the face shields rule.
“Acting on the advice of health experts and in view of the Delta variant, PRRD declared that the wearing of face shields, both indoor and outdoor, is still mandatory,” said Palace spokesman Harry Roque in a tweet./PN