TESDA produces face masks amid COVID-19 quarantine, distributes 90,000 so far

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been manufacturing face masks and turned over 90,000 of them to health care workers and other frontliners amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña said their production of face masks started way before the quarantine period in preparation for the worst case scenario.

“When there was a sudden demand for masks, we immediately issued a directive across TESDA institutions and training centers with dressmaking course to produce face masks and other personal protective equipment such as face shields,” Lapeña said in an interview over Dobol B sa News TV.

“As of April 4, we have distributed 90,000 washable face masks across the country, from Aparri in Cagayan, down to Sarangani province and the Zamboanga Peninsula. These are all free,” Lapeña added.

The recipients of face masks, Lapeña said, included health workers, barangay tanod, uniformed personnel manning checkpoints and even journalists.

Likewise, Lapeña assured that TESDA has enough supply to make more face masks.

“We have been sourcing materials from our private organization partners, and I thank them sa kanilang nakapagandang response,” Lapeña pointed out.

“The face masks are considered regular job orders, and I salute our personnel who are still going to work amid this time for this essential support to our frontliners,” Lapeña added.

As this developed, Lapeña also called on the public to avail of TESDA’s online courses by visiting https://www.e-tesda.gov.ph/ amid the COVID-19 quarantine period which will last until April 30.

“Our first defense against the disease is to stay at home, kaya puwede tayong mag-apply sa TESDA online courses. Meron din itong examination, at iyong magiging dagdag na kaalaman natin ay puwede nating magamit sa pamamahay ngayong quarantine period,” Lapeña said.

Finishers of the online course, Lapeña said, will receive a certificate of completion after the lockdown period. —Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News