MANILA, Philippines — In view of the shortage of alcohol and hand sanitizers due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has developed its version of ethyl alcohol that can help in combating the spread of the virus.
Dr. Armin S. Coronado, the director of the university’s Institute for Science and Technology Research, said a pilot batch of the alcohol has been produced on March 11, “following the requirements and standards of Food and Drug Administration.”
“Amid growing health concerns with the rise of COVID-19 patients, the University’s Institute for Science and Technology Research (ISTR) developed a local version of ethyl alcohol, following the requirements and standards of Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” the PUP said in a Facebook post.
Coronado added that more batches are expected to be manufactured as soon as raw materials are available next week as his team targets to produce at least 20 gallons of alcohol per month.
The manufacture and production of the alcohol are expected to begin before the end of this month at the newly established Engineering and Science Research Center.
Health workers and other frontline personnel in the battle against COVID-19 have been appealing for medical supplies like alcohol, face masks, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in view of the dwindling supply.