DOST-LSPU IDD lab develops more than 1.2K PPEs for Laguna frontliners

About 600 bent acrylic face shields were among the PPEs developed by the Ideation, Design, and Development (IDD) Laboratory of the Department of Science and Technology-CALABARZON together with the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) San Pablo that were distributed to frontliners in Laguna Province. (Photo from DOST Calabarzon)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, May 14 (PIA) --The Department of Science and Technology-CALABARZON together with the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) San Pablo through the Ideation, Design, and Development (IDD) Laboratory have joined forces to help in the battle against COVID-19.

The  DOST-LSPU IDD Lab has developed a total of 1,240 PPEs composed of 600 bent acrylic face shields, 610 safety gown suits made from poly microfiber (blue) and water repellent microfiber (white) fabric, 20 aerosol boxes, and 10 ventilator valves.
 
These PPEs have reached several hospitals and frontliners in the province of Laguna including HealthServ Los Baños Medical Center, Los Baños Municipal Health Office, San Pablo City Medical Society, San Pablo Community Quarantine Facility, Office of the Civil Defense IV-A, and for the DOST VCO Clinical Study in Sta. Rosa Community Hospital.
 
“Seeing the increasing demand of PPEs for the frontliners responding to this COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an opportunity to tap the resources and adjust the functions of this laboratory to address the present needs and situation of the community,” said by DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Alexander R. Madrigal on how they arrived on this initiative. 
 
With the completion of the project’s deliverables, that even surpassed the targets, an on-going survey to evaluate the level of acceptability of the produced PPEs is now being conducted. The recipients of these PPEs will evaluate their satisfaction in terms of quality, usability, safety, and aesthetics of the face shields, safety suits, aerosol boxes, and ventilator valves. The results will help the DOST-LSPU IDD Lab team to assess the outputs and note the improvements to be made in the next production. 
 
The DOST-LSPU IDD Lab is a special laboratory which makes use of 3D printers to facilitate product development, design, and prototype. Originally intended for local designers and potential technopreneurs, the DOST-LSPU IDD Lab has now ventured into serving a different customer- answering the call of service in these trying times. This also led the LSPU to gain experience and confidence in the production of PPEs paving the way for their submission of a proposal to CHED in the amount of Php 466,050 for the production of PPEs intended for the frontliners. (PIA-4A/DOST CALABARZON)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)