Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia answering questions in a press conference. (PIO)

The use of face shields in the Province of Cebu is here to stay despite calls to scrap it, at least for now. 

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia on Friday issued Executive Order No. 43 “rationalizing” the use of face shields in public and crowded areas. 

Instead of stopping the use of the widely criticized face shields, Garcia ordered continued use in “3C’s settings.”

Face shields, she said, should be required in crowded places, close-contact settings, especially where people have close-range conversations, and in confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. 

Garcia’s stand was different from her earlier statement Tuesday to scrap the use of face shields, especially in public transportation.  

She said she still needs to consult with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which still require the use of face shields inside public utility vehicles. 

Kanang face shield, ipatang-tang sa na nato oi (Those face shields, let’s just remove them),” Garcia told reporters in Cebuano. 

 “We are the only country in the world wearing face mask with face shield. Bati na gyud ta’g nawong kinahanglan tabunan og mask butangan pa gyud ug face shield (Are we that ugly that we need to cover our face with face masks and face shield?)?” 

The governor said she has been “silently advocating” against face shields, describing it as impractical. Instead, Garcia has been pushing for the use of air purifiers, which she claims were effective. However, the Department of Health said there is no scientific evidence to prove that air purifiers protect the wearer against the virus that causes Covid-19 – Ryan Sorote