Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut, VPRE (left) and the FabLab personnel develop the prototype of PPEs  for covid 19 pandemic.

The University’s Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) and the Research Department are currently working on the prototyping of ventilators, ultraviolet (UVC) sterilizers, and swab booth that can be used by medical frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.

“Being the host of the lone Fab Lab in Western Visayas, the university feels that it has a responsibility to help the government fight Covid-19,” ISAT U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong said in a telephone interview with the Philippine News Agency.  “The research department is currently prototyping the ventilators, ultraviolet (UVC) sterilizers, and swab booth for the front-liners,” he added.

“We are requested by Commission on Higher Education(CHED) Chairperson to work on this, being a university with facilities on fabrication laboratory (Fab Lab). Our Fab Lab here at ISAT-U is a shared service facility (SSF) provided by DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” Dr. Muyong bared.

The UVC sterilizer is very significant for the frontliners who used to dispose used protective suits. The University President pointed out that with the UVC sterilizer, hazardous material suits (hazmat) can be reuse. It also addresses the shortage of protective suits.

Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and CHED, the prototyping development spearheaded by the Office of Research and Extension is in full speed and is expected to end in December.

The study takes time, particularly for ventilators, which have to go through testing and analysis, as well as approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The researchers also need the input of medical professionals who would be the end-users of the study.
The University also initiated to produce washable face masks, face shields and aerosol boxes when the COVID-19 outbreak was declared in the country.

“We believe that ISAT U has a social responsibility to help our front-liners and health practitioners in fighting COVID-19. As a university of science and technology, we have the capacity to produce washable face masks, face shields, aerosol boxes,” Muyong said.
“We are very much positive that through this research, we can produce something for humanity,” he said. (With reports from the PNA)