DTI eyeing to produce 20M washable face masks for public distribution

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday said it is eyeing to produce 20 million reusable and washable face masks within one or two months to be distributed to the public for free as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the “poorest of the poor” or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries will be prioritized in the distribution of face masks.

“Ang unang target beneficiaries yun pong mga under 4Ps, yung mga nakakatanggap po sa DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], yung poorest of the poor families. Sila po ang pagbibigyan. Ang initial target po hopefully mga 20 million pieces,” Lopez said in an interview over Teleradyo.

(Our first target beneficiaries are those under 4Ps, those who receive assistance from DSWD, the poorest of the poor families. Our initial target is to produce 20 million pieces.)

“Siguro po within one month, within two months, hopefully makumpleto namin yung 20 million (face masks),” he added.

(Maybe within one month or two months, hopefully we’ll be able to complete the 20 million.)

Duterte tasked the DTI to consolidate macro, small, and medium enterprise (MSMEs) producers, cooperatives, and community organizations for the production of the washable face masks.

Lopez said local government units are also enjoined to participate in the production of face masks to benefit the livelihoods of their constituents who work as tailors and seamstresses.

/MUF