Sen. Francis Tolentino has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to stockpile face masks for local government units (LGUs) and schools in the vicinity of Taal Volcano, which has been emitting with steam and ash.
Tolentino advised Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH regional director of Calabarzon, to work hand in hand with other DOH regional offices in stockpiling face masks and providing supplies for prepositioning in smog and ‘vog’ affected areas.
The senator anticipates unscrupulous individuals exploiting the paucity of face masks in the volcano-affected areas by raising the price.
Dr. Valencia stated that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa issued a directive on Sept. 22 about the supply of face masks affected by Taal’s volcanic activity, in addition to the standard routine of always requesting resources from neighboring areas “if resources (are) needed.”
He stated that the supplies of face masks that adjacent DOH districts would provide to DOH Calabarzon could already be given away for free to residents in Taal Volcano affected areas.