Over 200,000 face masks were turned over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the Quezon City government for distribution to poor and vulnerable families in the metropolis.
 
Together with the members of Task Group Face Mask, the DSWD turned over the masks to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in a simple ceremony on Tuesday.
 
DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Peace Rene Glen Paje led the delivery of 200,000 surgical face masks and 33,800 reusable face masks.
 
The provision of face masks under the “Libreng Mask Para sa Masa” program is pursuant to Memorandum Order 49, “Directing All Concerned Government Agencies to coordinate and pool their resources and efforts into the production and distribution of face masks.”
 
DSWD, as a member of the task group, leads the distribution of the face masks to local government units based on the list of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries.
 
The distribution of face masks is also part of the campaign of the administration to prioritize the safety of citizens during the pandemic by strengthening the government’s strategic plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infections by enabling and encouraging the public to follow the minimum public health standards.
 
Likewise, the project also intends to help poor families in the informal sector in high COVID-19 risk communities through the provision of non-medical grade, washable face masks, while at the same time, supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises whose operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Also present during the event were DSWD Field Office-National Capital Region Director Vicente Gregorio Tomas, City Social Welfare and Development Office Chief Fe Macale, JTF-NCR Quezon City Area Commander Major Julius Apolinar Feria, and Cedric Raguindin of the Presidential Management Staff.