After a Butuan City-based volunteer organization distributed self-made face shields, overwhelming calls poured in from different offices, requesting to avail free face shields for frontliners.
To respond to the need for protection of the frontliners, Save Mindanao Volunteers, Inc (SMVI), based in Butuan City, with the support of EcoWEB, initially produced 500 face shields from locally-sourced materials. SMVI initiative to produce face shields came after availability concerns were raised during a meeting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO). SMVI immediately asked financial assistance from EcoWEB and then mobilized its volunteers for the procurement of materials and production. EcoWEB gave P10,000 and SVMI produced 500 face shields out of it.
The face shields are made of acetate and garter are assembled without the need for sewing machines. They are reusable and should be used together with a face mask. Each face shield costs around P30 to produce.
On April 19, SMVI distributed the initial 500 face shields to the AFP who manned checkpoints, the Land Transportation and Management Office (LTTMO), and the CDRRMO.As of now, the PNP who are manning checkpoints along the stretch of Agusan Norte and the OCD are also requesting for face shields. Barangay officials are also calling with requests of face shields for their frontliners.SMVI and EcoWEB, previous partners in promoting survivor and community-led response (sclr), are now trying to raise funds to respond to the need of those in the front lines.
if you want to partner with us in helping our frontliners and communities who are affected by this pandemic, please click the DONATE button.
