Manila Mayor Isko Moreno unwraps a N95 face mask donated by the Chinese Embassy to the city government on Tuesday, January 14, 2019. (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy donated on Tuesday 1,000 pieces of N95 face masks to the government of the City of Manila as residents in the capital suffer from ash fall brought by the phreatic eruption of the Taal Volcano.
Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso personally received the N95 face masks at the Manila City Hall from personnel of the Chinese Embassy.
He said students and senior citizens will be prioritized to receive the face masks.
Embassy staff said that the items procured in China were supposed to be used by personnel of their office but were instead donated to the city government following reports of shortage in supply of the items.
Just on Monday, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuña-Pangan said she received information that N95 face masks were being sold in some stores for as much as P200 from its original price of P25 to P30.
Health practitioners have recommended the use of N95 masks to prevent the inhalation of smaller dust particles, like the ash being spewed by the Taal Volcano.