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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House leader stresses need for N95 face masks amid Taal smog

House leader stresses need for N95 face masks amid Taal smog

Published Sep 22, 2023 10:35 am

At A Glance

  • Residents of places affected by Taal's volcanic smog should be given N95 face masks and other protective gadgets, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

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N95 face masks (Unsplash)

Residents of places affected by Taal’s volcanic smog should be given N95 face masks and other protective gadgets.

Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez Friday, Sept. 22 even as he cited information that the Department of Health (DOH) has an ample supply of N95 face masks.

“We have to protect affected residents from volcanic dusts and gases, and from possible respiratory ailments,” Romualdez said in a statement.

Romualdez said he received information from Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo that the DOH still has enough supply of N95 face masks procured during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He suggested that if face masks are not yet available, residents could improvise like covering their faces with cloth.

“We have to protect affected resident from volcanic dusts and gases, and from possible respiratory ailments,” the leader of the 311-member House of Representatives said.

In this regard, he called on the DOH and local government units (LGUs) to prepare for possible respiratory issues arising from volcanic smog in the affected areas.

“If they have available drugs for these ailments, they should already preposition them in places where they would be needed,” added the Leyte 1st district congressman.

Early Thursday, there were reports that haze coming from Taal Volcano’s emissions was spreading over Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Metro Manila, prompting authorities to suspend classes in these locations.

Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep Zaldy Co will relay Romualdez's request for the DOH to distribute N95 masks.

Co's panel will meet DOH officials next week ahead of the agency's plenary debate on its 2024 budget.

Related Tags

n95 mask smog Taal Volcano Martin Romualdez
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