Senator Richard J. Gordon called on the country’s lone manufacturer of medical masks to ensure that they are able to meet the high demand, amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) which has triggered an increased demand for face masks.

Gordon noted that the MedTecs Group, which produces masks and other personal protective equipment and medical supplies, should augment their machines to meet the demand.

He pointed out that even China, which can produce 25-million masks a day, is also ordering mask from them.

The said company produces 80,000 face masks per day.

“Nakiusap na din ako dun sa kumpanya na magpasok na ng mga dagdag na makina para makagawa ng mas maraming masks. Right now 80,000 a day lang production nila,” Gordon said.

The chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also disclosed that he is already working out an arrangement for the said medical firm to supply face masks at a lower cost to frontline agencies in the country, such as the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, airports, seaports, hospitals, all PRC chapters and others.

He added that he is also working on having face masks distributed, also at lower prices, to overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, where there are large concentrations of Filipino workers.

“We are negotiating with all frontliners in the government to give priority to hospitals, nurses and doctors if they have supply,” said Gordon.

I’m also appeling to MedTecs to give us their extra supplies,” said Gordon.

“Magpapadala tayo sa Hong Kong at sa Macau, sumulat na ko sa Chinese Red Cross, para sa mga Pilipino doon. Inaaral pa namin kung paano ang magiging distribution. Ibebenta ng mura,” Gordon said.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday announced that the country has its first case of the 2019-nCOV infection after confirmatory tests done on a 38-year old Chinese woman from Wuhan City came out positive for 2019-nCOV./STACY ANG