FACE MASKS. Persons deprived of liberty or inmates of the General Santos City Reformatory Center in Purok Lanton, Barangay Apopong craft washable face masks for medical frontliners, responders and local residents. Donations for face masks and other supplies continue to pour in as the city government steps up efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19). (Photo courtesy of General Santos City Reformatory Center)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Donations have poured in for the much-needed supplies like food and face masks for medical frontliners and first responders here who were deployed to contain the spread of the deadly 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Wednesday the support from local stakeholders and their partners has been overwhelming so far in the wake of the limited supplies of personal protective equipment in the area.
The City Health Office earlier called for donations and volunteers for the manufacture of improvised protective face shields and face masks for the medical frontliners and first responders.
The mayor said they received last Monday at least 10,000 pieces of face masks from the OFW party-list through former city councilor and now Rep. Roberto Pacquiao.
The supplies were turned over to the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Disease and the local government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital, Rivera said.
Rivera said former Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez chartered a private plane for the delivery of the face masks due to the continuing suspension of domestic passenger flights from Luzon.
He said the Department of Education (DepEd) city division, through superintendent Romelito Flores, delivered at least 400 food packs and 1,300 pieces of washable face masks to the city’s Covid-19 Command Center.
Several establishments and individuals also provided food supplies to medical frontliners and first responders.
“We’re very grateful for the continuing support from our partners as we continue to face this crisis,” he told reporters.
Meantime, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates at the city reformatory center here have also responded to the need for face masks of frontliners and local residents.
Jail/Supt. Peter Bongat, city reformatory center warden, said in an interview that their inmates already produced at least 1,000 pieces of washable face masks since last week.
Bongat said the PDLs work in shifts at the center workshop for the manufacture of the face masks, which were pre-ordered at PHP15 per piece.
Some of the face masks were also sent by the PDLs to their families through volunteer couriers as the center remains in total lockdown due to the Covid-19 threat.
“We’re happy that are inmates were able to do their share in addressing this problem and also earn on the side,” he added. (PNA)
