BALANGA CITY — The Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory (AMRel) of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) has been producing personal protective equipment (PPEs) since April 1 to provide support for frontline workers amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
As of Tuesday, the laboratory provided 1,220 3D printed face shields, 2,720 ear guards, 30 mask flanges and 2,000 injection molded face shields to health workers and other frontliners in Bataan, Pampanga and Olongapo City.
“The face shield production of AMReL is part of a larger initiative called Project BPSU which is being led by BPSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Emmanuel C. Macaraeg. The initiative has projects from the different colleges of the university which include face masks, alcohol production, and others. A fund-raising drive among the team members and friends of Project BPSU also provided the much needed supply of materials for the continuous production of PPEs,” AMRel Project Leader John Ryan Dizon said.
Alongside Project BPSU, the university also established several programs in different campuses and colleges in response to the battle against COVID 19. All projects are led by the BPSUPresident Gregorio J. Rodis.
“Since its establishment, the laboratory has always been supported by the College of Engineering and Architecture or CEA. Recently, CEA initiated a fund-raising campaign entitled ‘CEAsing COVID-19’ to acquire more 3D printers and materials to speed up the production of face shields and other PPEs with the leadership of Dean Nelson S. Andres and Campus Director Jason Anthony Banzon,” he added.
Dizon revealed funds raised were able to acquire five new 3D printing machines now being used in the laboratory to increase face shields daily production. A single face shield takes about an hour to be produced.
The production of PPEs was supported by Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, Metals Industry Research and Development Center, BPSU colleges and community, PBR Polypropylene Plant, Bayanihan Bataan, KCI Bataan, volunteers, and other partners.
“The laboratory also appreciates the support and contribution of Engr. Rodrigo C. Muñoz Jr., Dr. Hermogenes M. Paguia, Mr. Mark Colentava, Mr. Angelo Espenocilla, and the city government of Balanga,” Dizon furthered.