FACE MASKS. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas receives face masks donated by the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches on Monday (May 4, 2020). The city government targets to produce 200,000 washable face masks to be given free to city residents. (Photo courtesy of Iloilo City government)
ILOILO CITY – While under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the local government here is preparing to produce 200,000 washable face masks to be given free to residents of this highly urbanized city.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, in his regular press conference Monday, said there are various initiatives to reach the target number of face masks that will be made by Ilonggo sewers using cheesecloth.
The production of face masks is one of the city government’s preparations as it gears for the general community quarantine (GCQ) that is expected after the ECQ is lifted on May 15.
“What is important is everyone will have face masks. What is important is we protect ourselves,” Treñas said.
During the press conference, he said they have no final talks with the provincial government yet for the GCQ but based on the experience of Capiz, which is under GCQ, the social distancing measure should be observed.
“What we will do is just to make sure that social distancing will not be forgotten,” Treñas said.
Another development, he added, is that two hospitals in the city are willing to secure accreditation as Covid-19 testing centers. These are the Metropolitan Hospital and The Medical City.
The provincial government of lloilo, Treñas said, will help prepare the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Medical Center to also secure an accreditation while Iloilo City is trying to have its own testing laboratory.
Currently, the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) sub-national laboratory based in this city’s Mandurriao district caters to specimens from Western Visayas, Palawan and Romblon.
“So we will have in Iloilo City five testing centers,” Treñas said, adding that one will be operated by the city. Some of the city’s 39 medical technologists will undergo training so they can run the city testing laboratory.
The mayor said the city should be ready to test its residents after May 15. (PNA)
