ONA medical frontliners wear locally-made PPEs

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Admin

ANGELES CITY – In order to continuously ensure the safety of health workers here, the city government on June 23 has distributed reusable 1,000 Personal Protective Equipment and 500 facemasks to Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) medical frontliners.

Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. said these reusable protective gears were produced through the Angelen?o First Alternative Livelihood Program launched by the city government amid the pandemic.

The project aims to give an alternative sustainable livelihood project, produce reusable PPEs and facemasks for the campaign to preserve the environment, and provide the city government its own protective equipment for the city's health workers, in lieu of purchasing.

"Instead na bumili pa tayo ng mga PPEs at facemasks, napupunta na lamang yung pera sa pagpapasweldo sa inilunsad nating livelihood program para sa mga hinire nating mananahi na miyembro ng marginalized sector," Lazatin said.

“While helping members of the marginalized community, we also aim to safeguard our frontline workers in performing their duties. Alongside this is the aim to protect the environment, since the finished products will be reusable facemasks and PPEs,” Lazatin added.

RLMMC Chief of Hospital Dr. Froilan Canlas has recognized the efforts of the city government in prioritizing the medical personnel and workers assigned at the COVID-19 wards, providing programs that will attend the safety and welfare of the city’s health workers.

“The leadership of Mayor Lazatin has been pushing programs and assistance to take care of the city’s health workers – from free lodging to the salary raise of our nurses by P12,000 – in the middle of the pandemic,” Canlas furthered.

"The PPEs are comfortable. Maganda ang materials po na ginamit, pulido ang pagkakatahi, at fashionable pa," Canlas added.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel mentioned the city government hired and paid 120 women for the livelihood project – mostly solo parents, persons with disability (PWDs), stay-at-home parents, and women’s group – to produce reusable 6,600 PPEs and 72,000 facemasks intended for the city’s health workers and indigent residents.

To date, 8,000 PPEs and 70,000 facemasks have already been turned over to the Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Office (ACEDIPO) and Public Employment Services Office (PESO) by the ‘mananahis’.

Lazatin’s Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas shared that some 17 Angelen?o designers volunteered their time and skill to help the mananahis produce their facemasks and PPEs, namely Rich Sabinian, Rosette Biag, Danica Zita, Manny Ocampo, Stephen Victoriano, Jhune Angeles, Joey Feliciano, Bhry Adefuin, Jojo Macapinlac, Mich Viray, Carl Miranda, Cholo Ayuyao, Richard Hill, Rop Syquia, Philip Dizon Torres, Marlon Tuazon, and Frederick Policarpio.

“Maraming salamat po sa mga Angeleno designers na tumulong sa ating livelihood project, sa binigay nilang oras at pagbabahagi ng kanilang talento upang masiguradong maayos ang mga gagawing facemasks at PPEs na ipapamigay natin sa ating mga kababayan,” Calaguas said.

For her part, ACEDIPO Officer-In-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego reiterated that it is the primary aim of Mayor Lazatin to help Angeleños recover financially by providing livelihood programs like the making of facemasks.

“Layunin po ni Mayor na matulungan ang mga kababayan natin na naapektuhan ang kabuhayan kahit nasa bahay lamang po sila, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Bonus-Llego explained.

According to her, other livelihood programs currently being planned by the city government include tinapa-making, basket weaving, eco-bag making, rice retailing, and atchara-making.

It can be recalled that last January 5, 2021, Mayor Lazatin inspected the turned over facemasks and PPEs with Executive Assistant IV Manuel, ACEDIPO Officer-In-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego, and Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO) Head Rudy Simeon. —Photos by Kim Tayag