The DOST had approved a hand-crafted face mask locally made in Cavite.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had officially approved a hand-crafted face mask locally made in Maragondon, Cavite.
This, as the first local hand-crafted mask conformed to the the recommended minimum specifications or standards for non-medical face masks for community use.
In an interview on TeleRadyo, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña on Friday confirmed that the Department of Science and Technology had approved a hand-crafted face mask called “Mapagmahal Face Mask”.
According to Dela Peña, the said mask was made by a group in Maragondon who saw the opportunity in making face masks.
Dela Peña also said that the group made their own design and looked for materials, adding that they submitted the products for testing when they heard that there’s a call for the renewable face masks.
He also explained that there were two types of face masks: for clinical use and for community use.
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In a report on Manila Bulletin, the group submitted the products to the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) and were able to pass after a few months after meeting the requirements set by the Department of Science and Technology.
“Initially, they did not pass the test but what the PTRI experts did is to give them advice which is the better material to use and the features that they need to incorporate,” Dela Peña explained.
Dela Peña also explained that the said mask was made of the following: polyester and cotton in its outermost layer, knitted hydrophobic material in its second layer, and hydrophilic material in its innermost layer.
He added that the said mask, which was intended for community use, also met the requirements set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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