TEAMS composed of volunteers, faculty members and staff at school-based fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) in Central Visayas have designed and produced personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect and support frontliners in beating the viral pandemic in the region.

As of April 16, 2020, FabLabs in Central Visayas have produced a total of 24,358 face shields, 4,093 cloth face masks, 359 medical gowns and 20 aerosol boxes, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Central Visayas FabLabs are part of a network of FabLabs in the Philippines.

“Overall, FabLabs in the Philippines produced 46,055 face shields, 23,104 cloth face masks, 1,201 medical gowns and 217 aerosol boxes as of April 16,” DTI 7 assistant director Maria Elena Arbon said.

DTI Assistant Secretary Asteria Caberte, who pushed for the funding of the project, said other private groups are also producing PPE.

She said the DTI-assisted micro, small and medium enterprises such as Uniform Solutions, Tubigon Loomweavers Multi–purpose Cooperative, Lamac Multi-purpose Cooperative and Alter to Enhance Clothier are also mass-producing cloth face masks.

“These cooperatives and business enterprises are re-purposing their manufacturing capacity to meet the local demand,” she said. “We have always encouraged those that we have assisted to exercise their corporate responsibility and give back to the community in whatever way they can,” Caberte added. (CSL)