THE Davao City Government is setting up Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) centers where Dabawenyos can get face masks and face shields for free.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said this is one of the City Government's ways of strengthening the enforcement of the health measures, particularly the wearing of masks and face shields in public places.
"We need to set up a public distribution of masks and face shields. Para kadtong mga tao nga naa sa gawas unya walay mask or katong kinahanglan na og bag ong mga masks, maka-access sila og mask and face shields (So that people in public places who do have a mask or those who need new masks can access mask and face shields)," she said.
Since March, the City Government has been distributing free face masks through the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Davao City Police Office (DCPO), and Task Force Davao (TFD) in the field.
The masks were distributed while personnel of said offices are on patrol or field duty. This time, the City Government plans to establish centers, so that people will know where to go if they don't have masks or face shields.
"To make sure ang mga tao makatultol sila kung asa sila makakuha og masks and face shields, we need to establish those murag centers, PPE centers for the general public (To make sure that people know where they can get their masks and face shields, we need to establish those centers). When we say PPEs face masks and face shields," she said.
Duterte-Carpio added that the designated centers are set to provide masks and face shields for the general public during the pandemic.
The local government has already allotted a budget for the public distribution of masks and face shields.
"Kaniadto, naa na man gyud ta'y allotment every month para sa kanang mga masks na ginapanghatag nato, and it will still be the same for this year. Maghatag gihapon ta sa base sa budget nato from the city government of Davao sa masks. Sa face shield, we will exhaust first ang kadtong gi-donate sa atoa na face shields, before ta maggasto sa kaugalingon natong kwarta sa paghatag of face shields (Even before, we already have allotted every month for the mask distribution and it will be the same this year. We will still give from the city government's budget. For the face shield, we will exhaust first those donated to us before we spend our own money for the distribution of face shields)," the mayor said.
Also, Duterte-Carpio said the City Government has developed new materials for the "rekorida" to strengthen the campaign on observing the health protocols.
She called on Dabawenyos to strictly adhere to the protocols set against Covid-19 -- staying at home, wearing a face mask and face shield, frequently wash hands with soap and water, and social distancing. (CIO)