Bacolod eyes to produce 50,000 masks

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government is eyeing to produce 50,000 mask which will also provide livelihood to home- based sewers.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia has tasked the Bacolod City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO) to undertake the livelihood program that will allow accredited home-based sewers to manufacture as quickly as possible washable/reusable facial masks.

The initial target is 50,000 pieces but this can be increased to 100,000 if enough sewers will participate, Leonardia said.

The sewers will be provided pre-cut materials based on a Department of Health (DOH)-approved design and will be paid ₱10 for every piece sewn and submitted to the CCLDO.

While these will not be medical-grade facial masks, this program will augment supply of commercially-sold facial masks which are close to running out because replacement stocks cannot be easily or quickly sourced from the usual suppliers.

Sanitation inspectors of the City Health Office will check on the home work sites before the sewers are allowed to participate in the program.

The finished products will be sent to the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) for centralized disinfection and packing before distribution to the city’s medical frontliners.

The masks will also be given to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), city and barangay health workers, emergency responders, quarantine centers, PNP personnel at check-up points, those doing contact-tracing, and other priority groups that may be identified by the City Health Office and the DRRMO.

Those who are interested to join the project must have a sewing machine at home. They are advised to contact CCLDO head Brenda Burdeos at 0942-7283838 and must present a valid ID and their 2020 cedula.