Over 3.2 million cloth face masks have been distributed under the national government’s “Libreng Mask Para sa Masa” project, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disclosed.

The DSWD bared that cities of Marikina and Malabon were the recent recipients of the government’s face mask distribution drive.

Last week, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen O. Paje turned over some 348,910 pieces of cloth face masks to Malabon City Mayor Antolino A. Oreta III. While, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Director Lilian G. Salonga also handed over some 466,000 face masks to Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro.

The DSWD and DTI are members of the Task Force.

"With these two latest LGU-recipients, the TG FM has already distributed 3,237,800 pieces of cloth face masks to 18 cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, and three provinces,” the DSWD said.

It said Rizal and Pasay will also be covered by the “Libreng Face Mask Para Sa Masa”.

The provision of face masks is part of the campaign of the administration to prioritize the safety of citizens during the pandemic.

The DSWD noted that the government’s implementation of the “Libreng Mask Para sa Masa” project also seeks to support micro, small, and medium enterprises whose operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from DSWD and DTI, also sittiing as members of the TG FM are the Department of Health, Procurement Service of Department of Budget and Management, Office of Civil Defense, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Textile Research Institute.