Palawan Eco-artist JC Enon has designed a way to transform plastic bottles into personal protective equipment (PPE) face shields for healthcare workers and other frontliners in the battle against the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.
The Puerto Princesa-based iCARES Earth Hero Awardee designed the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Face Shields using plastic bottles or acetate and a few other materials and uploaded on March 15, 2020, the YouTube instructional videos for free and public use.
He then engaged his Junior Chamber International (JCI) Puerto Princesa Oil chapter, where he is Vice President, to create the face shields for donation to healthcare workers and other frontliners at this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Face Shield Project has since taken off and now involves the Philippine Red Cross-Palawan Chapter, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), and his passion project, Moto In Can, in the production and distribution of the PPEs to the CDRRMO, PDRRMO, Puerto Princesa Airport, Inagawan Satellite Clinic, and San Rafael Satellite Clinic.
The PRC Palawan reported that as of March 17, the project has produced 1,489 face shields and served 21 frontline agencies.
The instructional videos received positive netizen comments, with health worker Michelle Armayan commenting, “Thank you Sir JC, this is very helpful. Ipapakita ko po ito sa mga ka-work ko sa clinic para makagawa kami at the same time share this video in public.”
Junnar Garcia praised the project saying, “How innovative of you. Thanks, gonna share this.”
DIY Plastic Bottle Face Shields need the following materials:
- Clean transparent 1.5 or 1.75 liter plastic bottles
- Cutter or scissor
- Double-sided tape
- Garter (measure it according to fit)
- Puncher
- Thermal foam
Procedure:
Cut the end part of the bottle. Then, cut the bottle into half. Trim the sharp sides. Punch both sides.
Use thermal foam. Put double-sided tape on the glittery part of the thermal foam and then tape it into the bottle (for your forehead). Tie garter on both sides. Write your name in the bottle indicating that you own the face mask.
For video instructions on the DIY plastic bottle face shield go here.
For acetate face shield go here.
The Face Shield Project is encouraging material and cash donations with drop off points at the PRC Palawan and City Youth Development Office.
Good News Pilipinas editor Aurora Balibay talked to JC Enon about his new passion project and learned that the group intends to keep producing. He also encourages everyone to donate face shields.
For people intending to follow suit and conduct their own mass production of the face shields, Enon shared the guidelines that covered sanitation and social distancing:
The Bayanihan spirit continues as UP Diliman students have collaborated in developing a DIY sanitation tent for establishments while the SM Group has also announced it will provide Php 100 million for personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical supplies to assist healthcare workers at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to JC Enon and the Face Shield Project team for innovating in simple ways to assist the Philippines’ health workers and frontliners in the fight against COVID-19!
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