Netizens are helping address PPE shortage by coming together to produce protective glass boxes

Apart from rising cases of the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), hospitals are now facing depleting number of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies.

While netizens have been quick to help address the problem — a lot of donation drives have been set up, fashion designers are stepping in — it just doesn't seem enough.

Enter protective glass boxes. These are transparent boxes with which to encase patients, so doctors' exposure to the disease is lessened as they perform procedures on their patients.

When Youscooper Jao Achie, from the acrylic fabrication industry, came upon a post of Rizal Medical Center's Dr. Mardo asking for help from people who could possibly create the box, Jao couldn't resist responding to the call.

He shared, "A prototype was tested earlier by MMC [Makati Medical Center] and St. Lukes Doctors for final modifications and revisions, at ito na po iyon."

It only took Jao 30 minutes to create one box, which cost anywhere between P1,500 to P2,500, depending on your supplier.    

His post quickly went viral, with netizens now donating to him, making pledges, and sending inquiries.

According to Jao, a netizen from Alabang responded by pledging for 10 boxes bound to Batangas hopitals. Another netizen from San Juan pledged for four boxes to be sent to The Medical City and Cardinal Santos.

"Sa suppliers ng materials, pwede rin po kayo mag-donate. Kami na po bahala makapag-fabricate," he added. "Sikapin po namin makabuo ng 20 to 50 boxes per day dahil sa limited lang po ang manpower."

Filipinos have been demonstrating their Bayanihan Spirit all through the COVID-19 threat. Apart from trying to help address the PPE shortage, Filipinos — individuals and businesses alike — have been sending food to different hospitals, creating donation drives for daily wagers who've been badly hit by the enhanced community quarantine that President Rodrigo Duterte put Luzon under to combat the spread of COVID-19.

On Wednesday, COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 636. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News