THE partnership of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) for the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be expanded with the inclusion of more players.
The initial participants, two ladies wear manufacturers target to produce 300,000 pieces but DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said this can easily double if they add more shifts.
Three or four more companies are expected to join.
Lopez said the collaboration aims to develop the country’s capacity to produce medical-grade PPE while meeting demand for these vital medical supplies throughout the pandemic and beyond.
The local manufacturers which repurposed their garments export factories are capable of producing 10,000 PPEs per day.
The first 10,000 of the 300,000 locally-manufactured PPE coveralls which were donated by San Miguel Corp. were turned over to the Philippine General Hospital on Wednesday.
”There is really a need to create local manufacturing capacities to reduce import dependence, especially at a time when there is also a global shortage of critical medical supplies like PPEs and masks. Self-reliance is key to our strategy,” Lopez said.
