Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease
The daily production of some 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) by local exporters will be ready after Holy Week.
Karlo Nograles, Spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has sought the assistance of companies belonging to the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP).
“Raw materials for these will be shipped in by this week and roll out of production at the garment factories will immediately start after the Holy Week,” he said.
Nograles added that CONWEP designed the prototype which was approved by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine General Hospital
This will be the first time the country will pursue mass production of medical-grade protective gear that can “be used even in high COVID-risk hospital situations such as operating rooms, COVID 19 positive wards, and ICUs [Intensive Care Unit].”
According to the DOH, it has acquired one million sets of PPE valued at P1.8 billion, including an N95 mask, goggles, headgear, apron and gown.
This will address the shortage of protective gear in hospitals in the country which prompted some hospitals and individuals to improvise face masks and shields to prevent hospital personnel from being exposed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as they attend to patients while on duty. (Jojo Mangahis)