DOST-PTRI and Power Fashion Inc. to Manufacture 500,000 Reusable Face Masks

DOST-PTRI and Power Fashion Inc. to Manufacture 500,000 Reusable Face Masks

From the COVID-19 test kit developed by UP scientists, another essential item in the time of the pandemic has been created by a collaboration of Filipino organizations.

Power Fashion Inc. (PFI) the company behind the brands Bayo, Unica and Viseversa has entered into an agreement with Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) to deliver 500,000 face masks that will be used by frontliners in hospitals all over the country. The project is also being fully supported by local government of Taytay, Rizal which has prided itself as the garment capital of the Philippines.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña shared in his Facebook post, “DOST’s Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST - PTRI) in cooperation with the Taytay LGU and the private sector will produce 500,000 reusable face masks (up to 50 times).” He added, “It will use a PTRI textile-coating technology for treatment and finishing. It will also collaborate with the Power Fashion Inc. to produce masks using local fiber textiles which will be donated by the latter.”

When Taal volcano erupted last January, PFI temporarily stopped operations in their factory in Taytay, Rizal to make face masks to be distributed in the different evacuation centers.

In order to make the face masks more adherent to liquid pathogens such as Covid19, PFI submitted samples of the face masks to DOST-PTRI for trial. PTRI applied a functional treatment developed at the DOST-PTRI Smartex laboratory to the fabric that would make it water repellent. You can even wash the said face masks 50 times without losing its repellency factor. Once produced and released in the market DOST-PTRI shall call the face mask as REwear.

This collaboration between PFI and PTRI has the following salient points:

PFI:
1. Will donate the initial batch of fabrics that will be used to make the REwear masks.
2. Send the donated fabrics to PTRI laboratory for testing and treatment;
3. Submit to PTRI for approval, their fabric samples;
4. Commit its entire factory workforce to produce the much needed masks.

DOST-PTRI:
1. Will test the fabrics as to its resiliency to liquid pathogens;
2. Apply a treatment that will add functional repellency on textiles for liquid droplets.
3. For control purposes: PTRI will issue or put a seal on the face masks that have been treated in order to warrant that the same have passed the stringent requirements of the agency.

People behind:

Power Fashion Inc. - Leo and Anna Lagon
Philippine Textile Research Inc. - Director Celia Elumba
Taytay, Rizal LGU - Mayor Joric Gacula

You can read the full Facebook post of DOST Secretary:

See the post here: https://www.facebook.com/847181265433439/posts/1535138079971084/

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