LOCALLY-PRODUCED PPE. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, National Task Force Covid-19 Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez, Philippine General Hospital Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi during the turnover of 10,000 medical-grade coveralls on Wednesday (April 22, 2020) at the Department of Trade and Industry office in Makati City. This is the initial production out of 300,000 personal protective equipment committed to be produced by garment exporters. (Photo courtesy of DTI)
MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry-led Bayanihan PPE Project has turned over 10,000 medical-grade coveralls to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to ensure that front-liners have proper personal protective equipment (PPE) in their fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The DTI, Department of Health, and Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (Conwep) turned over the PPE gears to PGH on Wednesday.
The coveralls were produced by Conwep and the first 10,000 coveralls were procured by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for donation to PGH, which handles most of Covid-19 cases in the country.
“This collaboration by the government and the private sector aims to develop our country’s capacity to produce medical-grade PPE. This will also meet our demand for these vital medical supplies throughout the pandemic and beyond," DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Initiated by the Board of Investments, the Bayanihan PPE Project targets to repurpose factories in manufacturing of health and medical products to address the Covid-19 crisis.
Conwep, a group of garments exporters, was first to heed the call of the government by pioneering the local production of medical-grade PPEs in the country.
According to DTI, Conwep has committed to produce 300,000 PPEs for the country.
“By locally-manufacturing medical grade PPEs, we not only protect those who are at the forefront of this health crisis, but also create a sustainable local supply chain amid the ongoing pandemic,” Lopez added.
The government has offered incentives to enterprises that would manufacture health and medical products, as well as suppliers of raw materials and manufacturers of packaging materials of these products.
This initiative is to ensure that they can produce locally the medical equipment, which are critically needed amid the pandemic.
"There is really a need to create local manufacturing capacities to reduce import dependence, especially at a time when there is also a global shortage of critical medical supplies like PPE and masks. Self-reliance is key to our strategy,” Lopez said.
Meanwhile, aside from SMC, Minebea donated 15,000 N95 masks to PGH, while Steel Asia has pledged its support to the Bayanihan PPE Project.
UPS Foundation, Air21, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation also helped in facilitating the airlift and logistics of fabrics for the PPE from Shenzhen in Guangdong Province to Cavite. (PNA)
