TO promote environmental protection and a more impactful response to COVID-19, members of Akbayan Partylist on Monday mounted a “Palit Face Shield booth” in Quezon City, and encouraged people to turn over their damaged face shields in exchange for free vitamins, face masks and alcohol sprays.
According to Akbayan Second Nominee Dr. RJ Naguit, they also want to remind the public to continue exercising vigilance over the multibillion Pharmally corruption scandal.
“Through this effort, we hope to provide the people additional and evidence-based protection from COVID-19, protect our environment from unnecessary waste and urge the public to continue exacting accountability from the Pharmally plunderers,” Naguit said.
“Walang halos dagdag pakinabang at proteksyon ang mga face shields na ito. Dagdag pahirap at gastusin lamang ito sa mamamayan. Every day that we wear them is an insult to us, as we are constantly reminded of the Duterte administration’s massive corruption and incompetence,” Naguit remarked.
Akbayan called on the national and local governments to adopt its initiative and implement an incentive-based retrieval and disposal of the said face shields.
“Itapon sa tamang basurahan ang kanilang mga overpriced, substandard at expired na face shields, at ikulong ang mga Pharmally plunderers. The people need science-based COVID-19 protection, not fake and corrupt solutions,” Naguit said.
The wearing of face shields in public, which was made mandatory in the Philippines since December 2020, is no longer required. This was after the local governments of Manila and Marikina lifted the mandatory use of face shields in public places. They cited the high percentage of their vaccinated citizens and proposed to focus more on anti-COVID-19 medicines.
metrosundaily
