By Dhel Nazario
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is looking for more collaborators for its re-wearable, reusable, and washable face masks intended for frontliners.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña (TOTO LOZANO/ Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said that they are still on the 10,000 per week production because they are still looking for more collaborators which will be doing the sewing.
"Our target production initially is 500,000. We have already earmarked half of it for the frontliners in cooperation with the task force that is taking charge of logistics," the secretary said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday.
Dela Pena said however, that they expect that the volume will go to about 50,000 per week by the end of June. The rest that they will produce will be part of the stockpiling of inventory of masks by the Philippine government.
The masks make use of a PTRI textile-coating technology for treatment and finishing and can be used up to 50 times.
"The benefit from these masks is that, as I mentioned, reusable, re-wearable and we have made sure that it passes the requirements. First of all, it requires water repellency of the textile material and this is being done by applying a certain compound. And of course, we are preparing the use of natural textile material like cotton," the secretary said.
Most of the materials that the agency is using now are donations from companies in the Philippines, and even the materials that they have used for the compounds were also donated.
"Most of our production now is coming from the sewers of Taytay and also from Cavite. And we expect to have more collaborators for this," dela Pena said.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña (TOTO LOZANO/ Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said that they are still on the 10,000 per week production because they are still looking for more collaborators which will be doing the sewing.
"Our target production initially is 500,000. We have already earmarked half of it for the frontliners in cooperation with the task force that is taking charge of logistics," the secretary said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday.
Dela Pena said however, that they expect that the volume will go to about 50,000 per week by the end of June. The rest that they will produce will be part of the stockpiling of inventory of masks by the Philippine government.
The masks make use of a PTRI textile-coating technology for treatment and finishing and can be used up to 50 times.
"The benefit from these masks is that, as I mentioned, reusable, re-wearable and we have made sure that it passes the requirements. First of all, it requires water repellency of the textile material and this is being done by applying a certain compound. And of course, we are preparing the use of natural textile material like cotton," the secretary said.
Most of the materials that the agency is using now are donations from companies in the Philippines, and even the materials that they have used for the compounds were also donated.
"Most of our production now is coming from the sewers of Taytay and also from Cavite. And we expect to have more collaborators for this," dela Pena said.