EL NIDO, Palawan – A group of friends who happen to have spouses in the Philippine Navy (PN) have designed a do-it-yourself (DIY) face shield and are distributing them to frontliners in this municipality while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in place.
Headed by Rozanna Pinky Moralde-Sandoval, 34, and three others, namely, Dece Grace Dinaga, Rosalyn Paez, and Erika Ison, started their DIY face shield drive as early as March 20, 2020, when they noticed a shortage of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for military personnel in El Nido.
“Doon na nagsimula noong hinanapan ko ‘yong mga nag-checkpoint na taga-(Joint) Task Force Malampaya (JTFM) noong nakaraang Friday, March 20. Nagkaubusan na rin kasi sa mga bilihin. May mga nagbigay po sa amin ng disposable face mask at gloves ngunit kulang pa rin,” Moralde-Sandoval said in an online interview with Palawan News.
“Talagang nakita naming kailangan nila ay face shield, hanggang sa ‘yong iba po na nakausap namin ay nag-pledge na po na sagutin na rin ang snacks ng ating mga sundalo,” she added.
Worries for their husbands’ safety, as well as for others who were serving in the frontlines of the quarantine, were the main driving forces of starting their relief efforts. She added that their efforts were to boost morale among military personnel.
“Siyempre, bilang asawa ng sundalo, alam ko ‘yong pakiramdam at pag-aalala, since sila ang isa sa mga frontliners natin dito sa kinakaharap na krisis, ang COVID -19,” Moralde-Sandoval added.
A total of 350 face shields were given to various frontliners in the municipality last March 24, 2020. These included not only military personnel, but also the Traffic Management Group (TMG), barangay officials, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), members of the local government unit (LGU), and employees of banks, medical clinics, pharmacies, and even locals.
“Gusto ko lang i-grab iyong opportunity na mapasalamatan po namin lahat ng nagdonate, nagpledge, tumulong sa amin, mula po sa puso namin, maraming maraming salamat po at nawa’y huwag tayong magsawang tumulong sa mga taong nangangailangan,” Moralde-Sandoval added.
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