The Department of Science and Technology-CALABARZON together with the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) San Pablo, through their Ideation, Design, and Development (IDD) Laboratory have joined forces to help in the battle against COVID-19.
The partnership of DOST-CALABARZON and LSPU IDD Lab produced a total of 1,240 personal protective equipment (PPEs) composed of the following: 600 bent acrylic face shields, 610 safety gown suits made from poly microfiber (blue) and water repellent microfiber (white) fabric, 20 aerosol boxes, and 10 ventilator valves.
These products were given to hospitals and frontliners in the province of Laguna that included the following: HealthServ Los Baños Medical Center, Los Baños Municipal Health Office, San Pablo City Medical Society, San Pablo Community Quarantine Facility, Office of the Civil Defense IV-A, and for the DOST VCO Clinical Study in Sta. Rosa Community Hospital.
“Seeing the increasing demand of PPEs for the frontliners responding to this COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an opportunity to tap the resources and adjust the functions of this laboratory to address the present needs and situation of the community,” said by DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Alexander R. Madrigal.
With the completion of the project’s deliverables, that surpassed set targets, an on-going survey to evaluate the level of acceptability of the produced PPEs is now being conducted. The recipients of these PPEs will evaluate their satisfaction rating in terms of quality, usability, safety, and aesthetics of the face shields, safety suits, aerosol boxes, and ventilator valves. The survey results will help the DOST-LSPU IDD Lab team to assess the outputs and make improvements, if needed, for the next production.
The DOST-LSPU IDD Lab is a special laboratory that makes use of 3D printers to facilitate product development, design, and prototyping. Originally intended for local designers and potential technopreneurs, the DOST-LSPU IDD Lab has now ventured into serving a different customer- answering the call of service in these trying times. This also led the LSPU to gain experience and confidence in the production of PPEs thus paving the way for their submission of a proposal to the Commission on Higher Educaton (CHED) in the amount of Php 466,050 for the production of PPEs intended for the frontliners.
DOST-CALABARZON and Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo collaborate to produce 20 aerosol acrylic boxes for frontliners in Laguna.
Hospital frontliners don their new safety gowns as protection from COVID-19 courtesy of DOST-CALABARZON and Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo IDD Lab.
DOST-CALABARZON collaborates with the Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo IDD Lab to provide Laguna hospitals and frontliners with face shields and protective suits made of poly microfiber (color blue) and water repellent microfiber (color white).
By: Demee Angelica S. Ludia and Rochelle L. Cruz, DOST-IVA
