By Fernan Angeles
THE government hinted at producing some 50 million face masks to be given away for free as it continues its fight against COVID-19, according to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
In news dispatch sent to reporters, TESDA deputy director-general for partnerships and linkages Aniceto Bertiz III said a Cabinet cluster directed their agency the procurement of the free face masks, for a maximum price of P15 apiece.
“We’ve been tasked to mass-produce the face masks based on required quality standards and at a cost of no more than P15 each,” Bertiz said.
He added that the face masks would be turned over to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and then to provincial, city and municipal governments, which would directly do the distribution.
Led by Secretary and Director-General Isidro Lapeña, TESDA on its own has been producing face masks through a home-based livelihood support program for marginal families since March, when commercial supplies of the protective gear first began to run out.
To quickly scale up the production of the face masks, Bertiz said TESDA may seek the help of its mother agency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in mobilizing highly labor-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the garments industry.
Malacanañg recently ordered the DILG to enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks by everybody in public, and to apprehend those who fail to comply.