Bicol University staff, professors make face shields for COVID-19 frontliners

LEGAZPI CITY — Professors and staff from Bicol University in this city made improvised face shields to be distributed for free to frontliners in hospitals and streets fighting against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Jonathan Arroco, dean of the College of Industrial Technology, said on Wednesday, they produced more than 20 and prepared at least 120 ready-to-assemble face shields in the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab).

He said they cannot do a mass production of the protective equipment because of limited equipment and raw materials but are willing to train possible volunteers from different groups and local government units to produce their own face shields.

“Since the FabLab is not a manufacturing company, we will multiply its capacity to other groups who are willing to help. We only have limited staff, but we can cut the materials and we can teach them how to assemble,” he said.

They need heat guns, gloves and raw materials such as acrylic plastic and acetate plastic rolls.

Arroco said the laboratory cannot accomodate more workers because they also need to maintain social distancing.

The project was inspired by some medical practitioners and frontliners who used improvised shields made of plastic bottles due to lack of enough facilities.

EDV