By Jonas Terrado
Manufacturing companies known for providing uniforms to teams in the pro and amateur ranks have shifted their attention on helping health workers fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran wears a sample PPE made by LGR on a recent visit while two health workers wear a camouflage-inspired PPE produced by Jersey Haven. (Photos from LGR and Jersey Haven)
LGR and Jersey Haven are some of the businesses that are using their resources to produce and donate as many personal protective equipments as possible for hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The scarcity of the said equipments and the numerous requests of doctors and nurses have prompted LGR Executive Vice President Rhayan Cruz and Jersey Haven head Andrew Tan to take part in the endeavor.
“First week of lockdown, hindi pa natin na-feel yung need ng PPEs, pagpasok ng second week all hospitals are already asking for PPEs,” said Cruz, whose company outfits PBA teams TNT KaTropa, Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors and the Philippine Azkals.
“After watching the news and hearing our frontliners, kailangan na tumulong ni LGR. We have enough resources of imported repellent fabrics to support the needs of the hospitals,” he added.
Workers at the LGR Sportswear in Manila begin the process of manufacturing PPEs that will be donated to health workers. (Photo from Rhayan Cruz)
Tan, whose Jersey Haven he co-owns with his brother Alvin manufactures the uniforms of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and several MPBL teams, took the initiative of making PPEs through a donation drive.
“Wala kasing kaming work since lockdown, so di naman sila (production team) pwedeng walang pagkakitaan kasi may mga family din sila, so nag-explore kami ng options ng brother ko,” Tan said.
“Then nag-message sa akin bigla yung batchmate ko na may donation drive group sila, and they were looking for someone who can help them manufacture PPEs,” he added.
It didn’t take a while for Cruz and Tan to find ideas on how to create PPEs.
Cruz took inspiration from a Hazmat Suit Coverall he got from a friend who serves as a doctor at the Philippine General Hospital while Tan was able to find a suit after efforts to find a sample through Facebook groups.
“Gumawa kami ng prototype, then we made sure na magagamit ng mga frontliners at pinaapprove namin yung suit sa PGH HICU (Hospital Infection Control Unit) department which they approved and recommended na pwede for high-risk use,” said Tan.
Stocks of materials which Jersey Haven will use to make personal protective equipment suits. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Tan)
LGR began several days to manufacture the said PPEs, with the aim of completing 10,000 pieces over the next four weeks. Cruz said the PPEs will be donated to PGH and the Taguig Pateros District Hospital, though they have received requests from numerous hospitals and even pilots from Philippine Airlines.
Tan’s company has already sent completed suits to PGH, Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila and Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. He also said that the target is for them to likewise make 10,000 pieces of PPEs.
The two companies join a list of individuals and groups in the sports community that have taken initiatives in helping those affected by the pandemic.
Athletes, coaches and teams have done their own share through various endeavors since the government imposed an “enhanced community quarantine” in hopes of slowing down the spread of the virus.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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