Army troopers make improvised face masks for check-up points

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Members of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Negros Oriental showcased their creativity and resourcefulness by making improvised personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The soldiers made face masks and visors using projector acetate, double-sided tapes, garter, staple wire, and foam.

The 11th IB is one of the frontliners of the Inter-Agency task force assigned to various quarantine border control check-up points in the province.

Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, 11th IB commander, said that due to scarcity of face masks, the improvised items will serve as additional protective equipment to the soldiers, who are also vulnerable to the pandemic disease.

“We will do our part in protecting the community against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. But, to be able to do this, we also need to protect our personnel who are equally susceptible to this disease,” Redosendo said.

He encouraged everyone to cooperate and follow the adhering guidelines of health officials and local government to help in the fight against this pandemic.