Teacher from Clark formulates and donates alcohol to frontliners

In the hope of helping communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 disease, Chemistry teacher Rohit C. Tilwani of Philippine Science High School (left) together with his lab assistant Mia Q. Garcia (middle), and PSHS school nurse Hazel Marie B. Calma (right) formulates a 70% ethyl alcohol which will be distributed to local and private hospitals in Pampanga.

MANILA, Philippines — A high school teacher in Clark Freeport was able to formulate 70% ethyl alcohol that he then donated to hospitals and police checkpoints in Pampanga.

Chemistry teacher Rohit Tilwani, with the help of school nurse Hazel Calma and lab assistant Mia Garcia, was able to manufacture 60 bottles of 500-ml ethyl alcohol from the inventory of Philippine Science High School’s laboratory.

Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center in San Fernando, Pampanga was Tilwani’s primary recipient as the institution in the designate regional hospital for COVID-19 patients.

“Rather than being left unutilized, we put it to good use. We hope it could help prevent the spread of the virus,” said Tilwani, who also donated to Rafael Lazatin Medical Center in Angeles City, in a statement.

Tilwani, Garcia, and Calma, along with personnel from the Public Safety Department of Clark Development Corporation, also gave out some of their alcohol to policemen manning the checkpoints in San Fernando, Angeles, and Magalang.

A licensed chemist, Tilwani also formulated 33 bottles of 500 ml each of disinfectant solution that will be distributed to Barangay Marcos Village in Mabalacat City.

“We hope to be able to produce more until our supplies are exhausted,” said Tilwani whose group is also making 3D-printed face shields for medical frontliners.

There are around 200 face shields—made from acetate, plastics, and filaments—made and will be distributed next week.

Tilwani said that he and his group would inform Dr. Clemencita Dobles, CDC Health and Sanitation Division manager, once their production of the face shields is complete.

“We will be giving out also face shields using the school fabrication laboratory. These will be given to frontliners,” said Tilwani.

PSHS also donated N-95 masks to Mt. Carmel Hospital inside Freeport. With a report from Tonette Orejas

Edited by JPV