Davao City: Volunteer firefighters from the Filipino-Chinese Firefighters Foundation of Davao Inc (FCFFDI) are making essential face shields for medical, police and military frontliners fighting to contain the spread of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
“We began last week Tuesday, mao tong pagpurchase sa unang load sa acetate plastic (that was when we purchased the first load of acetate plastic)” says Rey Llanes, operations chief of the FCFFDI.
He said the first batch of acetate face shields had them producing 1,500 pieces. The second batch of acetate supplies can produce around 1,200 shields.
“These are heavy-duty face shields, since we use rivets to hold the garter,” Llanes said. They use clear acetate to enable the users to see clearly as the medical frontliners are also using googles.
A distinctive “From the people of Davao” text is placed at the top front of the shield.
Llanes said they have been receiving numerous calls for face shields. The protective equipment can protect these frontliners from droplets which can reach 10 feet.
He said the resources generated from the fundraising enabled them to buy the acetate supplies. Llanes said generous sponsors also gave food and water to volunteers making the shields.
Senator Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa is one of those donors, he helped procure the second batch of acetate plastic rolls.
Llanes said the shields were given to frontliners at the Southern Philippines Medical Center and also to police and military personnel manning the checkpoints. Some of the masks were also given to frontliners in Kidapawan City.
He said they were able to devote time to making face shields as the once peak season for fires have become less busy.
“Because of the quarantine and people staying at their homes, there is lesser chance for fire to start and worsen as compared to before this COVID when people were working and leaving their homes unattended. What we have are grass fires,” Llanes said.
He said this is not the first time they responded to a crisis, during the fire in Mt Apo four years ago, they together with other firefighting groups scaled the highest peak in the country to control the conflagration.
“We love the people of Davao City, we support our government,” Llanes said of their motivation to again pitch in and help. (PIA/RG Alama)