HELPING FRONT-LINERS. More than 8,000 face masks have been produced by the partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Surigao del Sur and the Department of Education. The face masks are given to front-liners manning quarantine checkpoints to prevent the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease. (Photo courtesy of TESDA-SDS)
BUTUAN CITY – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Surigao del Sur (TESDA-SDS) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have produced some 8,050 face masks to be distributed to front-liners here fighting the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“When the quarantine checkpoints were established and our front-liners started to perform their duties, we saw the need of providing them with facemasks for their protection,” TESDA-SDS chief Rey Cueva told Philippine News Agency Tuesday.
Cueva said the agencies tapped the 15 schools that offer tailoring and dressmaking courses to produce the face masks.
“We reached out for sponsors of materials while students of said schools will do the production. The partnership has resulted in the production of more than 8,000 face masks for our front-liners,” he said.
He also thanked Gov. Alexander Pimentel, 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay, the local government of Marihatag, and the Philippine Red Cross in the area for the support.
Cueva said TESDA and DepEd's partnership is set to produce more face masks and disinfectants with the PHP50,000 given by the local government of Carrascal.
TESDA-SDS and other government agencies have also been involved in food distributions to residents in the province's far-flung areas who are affected by the quarantine.
Cueva said TESDA-SDS, Army's 36th Infantry Battalion, and the Montanez Agri-Venture farm school distributed food packs to more than 70 indigenous people (IP) families on April 21 in Barangay New Umalag, San Miguel town.
On April 24, TESDA-SDS and security forces in the area also gave food packs to 50 families in Barangay Bogac, Lingig. (PNA)
