Beware of fake DOST face shields sold online

NOT FOR SALE The Department of Science and Technology, through the Metals Industry Research and Development Center, has been mass producing face shields that are being given away for free to front-liners. —PHOTO FROM DOST

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has asked the public not to buy face shields supposedly made by its Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).

In an advisory, the DOST said it found out that face shields bearing the name and logo of the DOST-MIRDC were being posted for sale on Facebook and other online sites.

“We did not and we will not allow any seller of face shields to use our design, our name and our logo just so they can do business. Face shields that are mass-produced by the DOST-MIRDC are given to front-liners for free,” it stressed.

The agency, however, is asking for donations such as polypropylene and acetate sheets to continue its mass production of the protective gear.

Health workers have been clamoring for personal protective equipment suits, including face shields, to protect them from contracting the new coronavirus disease while attending to patients.

Through the help of its technology partners, Omnifab and Megasamsotite, the DOST-MICRD said it could produce a total of 5,000 face shields per day.“Initially, we produced 3D printed face shields as our stopgap measure. But we wanted to help meet the high demand for face shields that is why we geared up for mass production,” DOST-MIRDC Executive Director engineer Robert Dizon said.Molds for the face shield frames are fabricated at the DOST-MIRDC laboratories and mass produced through plastic injection technology.

The face shield is composed of the frame and acetate which are secured with a garter, Dizon explained. INQDonors and those requesting for face shields may call the DOST-MIRDC at 0908-8158167, 0927-9885367, 0908-1790502.