Exploring Sustainable Manufacturing Processes for Sanitary Items Utilizing Abundant Natural Resources: A Covid-19 Pandemic Response in Northern Samar, Philippines

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only bring millions of casualties but also diminished the supply of sanitary items. In Northern Samar alone, sanitary items such as facemasks, rubbing alcohol, and soaps run out of stock on the first week of the gradual closure of businesses. This means that those with fewer financial resources have difficulties acquiring such sanitary items to protect them from this deadly disease. Northern Samar is abundant when it comes to nipa resource which has a big potential as a raw material for production of bioethanol. Due to the shortage of rubbing alcohols and raw materials for the laboratory made ethyl alcohol, extraction of bioethanol from fermented Nypa fruticans was done. This created raw materials needed in the production of laboratory made ethyl alcohol that was distributed to its target beneficiaries. On the other hand, Salacia korthalsiana Miq. commonly known as Polipog, is a traditional plant used to treat different diseases. It is used as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and as antibacterial agent. The root part of the plant was used to produce an antibacterial bar and liquid soap. Thru the funding of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), manufacturing of non-medicine products took place in the University of Eastern Philippines. These basic sanitary items were given to the provincial government of Northern Samar for distribution to local communities to combat the spread of COVID-19. A prepared biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were applied to the face mask through spraying the solution on the surface of the face mask. Results showed that the textile with nanoparticles inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Further researches is sought to properly utilize the promising results of the wonders of the natural resources found in Northern Samar.