DOST joins fight vs COVID-19

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol regional office has helped the Legazpi City government by providing free alcohol and disinfectants to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRMO) on Sunday, Mar. 22.

DOST Bicol turned over the following items to the Legazpi CDRRMO: 41 bottles of 70% ethyl alcohol solution, 500 mL; 15 bottles of 70% ethyl alcohol solution, 1L; 2 bottles of 70% ethyl alcohol solution, 2L; and 22 packs of ready-to-use disinfectant solution. It also provided 64 packs of available nitrile gloves.

DOST’s Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL) has utilized available chemicals in the laboratory to prepare and produce alcohol and chlorine disinfectants. This initiative was done to help prevent or reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community. It is also a way to appreciate and honor dedicated front-liners who relentlessly serve the affected communities brought by this “global pandemic”.

Likewise, knowing the economic impact of Covid-19 particularly to small businesses, the DOST has suspended the collection of payments as well as waived off penalty fees for the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) for the period of March and April 2020. This is also to show support and solidarity to small enterprises as they navigate through these difficult times on business operations, the agency said.

DOST Bicol and its six Provincial S&T Centers (PSTCs) urge the general public particularly the Bicolanos to stay safe, be vigilant and cooperate with orders and ordinances set forth by the national leadership and local government units.

Together, we can fight this “invisible enemy” and at the end of this pandemic, we can rebuild our community to be more livable, safer, healthier, resilient and sustainable, the DOST said. (Engr. D.A. Peña, Jr., RPMO DOST V)