A team from the UP Baguio College of Science (UPB-CS) is producing 70-percent ethyl alcohol in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UPB announced through an official Facebook post on April 8, 2020.
Using campus laboratories, the team composed of Chemistry professors Ofelia Giron and Reymark Ereje, CS administrative staff Joeran Valdez, and Biology alumni and research assistants Donna Castro, Jen Manglinong and Bea Palaganas produced almost 50 liters of the alcohol in the first two days.
The project initially intended to produce alcohol for the University’s own need to disinfect personal protective equipment (PPE). UPB had composed Task Force PPE to produce these in efforts to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team produced 10 liters on the first day, April 7, 2020. To help address the need for disinfection solutions particularly of public health care facilities in the locality, it decided to produce more. On the second day, an additional 37 liters was produced.
