governance

[OPINION] Face shields block the way to PH retail recovery

Michael McCullough

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[OPINION] Face shields block the way to PH retail recovery

Illustration by DR Castuciano

'The mandate to wear a face shield before walking into a restaurant, only for you to sit down and take it entirely off, is comedic at best and downright discouraging at worst'

After a year into the longest lockdown in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines is still on its way to flattening the third surge of active cases while struggling to revive its economy. Local industries including real estate are yet to see significant improvements in business activity, operations, and revenue as sectors still finetune processes in the new normal. 

As other countries such as the United States loosen their restrictions, there is an aggressive demand to reexamine the standard personal protective equipment being required by the Philippine government from both the public and private sectors to help revive the economy – particularly face shields, an additional plastic barrier worn over masks.

The Philippines first moved forward with face shield implementation by citing an August 2020 study where researchers proved the additional protection provided by these shields. Since then, the government has mandated the public to always wear face shields in public spaces. Despite its ecological implications of adding more single-use plastic into our oceans and landfills, policymakers argued the case of Singapore, where face shields are considered “adequate basic protection” by the country’s Ministry of Health.

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Doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital already expressed their opposition to this move. The premier state university hospital claimed that this protective gear is only designed to “provide protection from splashes of biological fluid,” leaving out the very essence of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Department of Health Undersecretary and physician Leopoldo Vega also campaigned for the removal of face shields outdoors as a mandatory requirement as viral transmission is low in well-ventilated spaces. 

Similarly, this decision was not supported or endorsed by international health organizations and mental health advocates. A study shows that wearing face coverings can cause anxiety, panic, and can affect the quality of air adults and even children breathe

At odds with the promotion of outdoor or fitness activities, the World Health Organization does not even encourage the wearing of face masks during exercise as it makes breathing difficult and sweat can only spur the growth of microorganisms. The use of face shields has also posed a greater hazard to the country’s bikers, which only led to their eventual exemption

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso Moreno has also stirred much controversy after he similarly challenged this additional measure. The earnest mayor argued that it only adds to the burden on the public, and must be amended strictly for hospital use. He also urged health experts to conduct a more extensive study on the effectiveness of wearing face shields in public.

While his concerns are purely practical, the impact of face shield usage in the Philippines has also posed some serious drawbacks in the real estate industry.

Eventually, retail has become one of the hardest-hit sectors, as consumption remains low due to health anxiety and aversion to crowds. Malls have been emptied as tenants vacate spaces and mallgoers stay at home. Even during the slight reopening of the economy this year, many are still discouraged to spend time outdoors given all the serious inconveniences posed by safety measures upon entering establishments.

The consequences experienced by the retail and food and beverage industries have been quite significant. In a Mosaic Analytics study, a significant drop of at least 50% in cumulative revenue is seen for the F&B sector in 2020. Despite a recorded 12.91% increase in revenue for 2021, it is still no match for pre-pandemic revenues.

The F&B has mandated policies of “No Face Shield, No Mask, No Entry = No Business.” However, the mandate to wear a face shield before walking into a restaurant, only for you to sit down and take it entirely off, is comedic at best and downright discouraging at worst. These policies have also encouraged patrons to eat with their friends and families in smaller cramped quarters that often lack the necessary ventilation that reduces COVID spread.

The data is consistent with what major retail developers and the Philippine Retailers Association have been advocating, after claiming that the sector will still be “soft” this year despite an expected 10% improvement from 2020. 

With the NCR and several other provinces transitioning back to general community quarantine, the call for a more united and definite policy stands. This, even after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced, after much flip-flopping, that the face shield requirement is here to stay due to the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus.

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If a solution is indeed warranted, a closer look would suggest that better protection comes from putting the budget for face shields into purchasing N95 or KN95 masks, which offer better viral protection. This would be particularly helpful on public transportation or shopping at grocery stores.

This call to return to normalcy should not be shrugged off as a simple comment on inconvenience and overall wellbeing. Dropping the face shield mandate is crucial to boosting business activities that can push forward the economy and boost tourism. It will get families back into the malls, and will be helpful for businesses that are trying to get their employees back into offices. – Rappler.com

Michael McCullough is the Managing Director of KMC Savills Inc. He comes from a strong commercial real estate background, taking on a key role in all brokerage transactions. He also has been instrumental in the growth of the company, leading a team of over 170 professionals across a range of services.

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