MANILA (UPDATE) - The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu has created 3D-printed, laser-cut face shields to protect frontline workers in the country's battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On Facebook, UP Cebu said its Fablab -- or fabrication laboratory -- will continue to produce "as much face shields for the Cebu community" as the team expects to receive additional materials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The university added that they welcome support from private donors as they come up with a final model that will be ready for mass production.

"The frame can be attached to a sheet of plastic or acetate to create a face shield that helps protect Cebu's frontline health workers and other users against the coronavirus. Prototyping of the frame was initially created using a 3D printer but after a few tests they found out that using a laser cutter was much faster and yielded more results," the post read.

As of Wednesday, Fablab has made more than 100 face shields.

"We are hand in hand in the government in this as we are also mandated to produce prototypes through fabrication," said Fablab manager Mona Aludia.

More details can be found below:

Meanwhile, while classes are suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students from the University of Cebu (UC) also created face shields for frontline workers.

"We wanted to help and the best way is to make PPEs (personal protective equipment) without disrupting the quarantine protocol," said Alpha Chi Sigma founder Fidel Cascabel.

In Cebu Normal University (CNU), Dr. Milagros Greif, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, made a disinfectant alcohol enriched with mosquito repellant.

These were distributed to the different personnel in the university, which is operating in a skeletal force.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday asked for the understanding of medical workers over a shortage of gear that would protect them from COVID-19.

The agency recently received 10,000 sets of personal protective equipment or PPEs that China donated, and hospitals across the country requested to get a share.

• 'Di minamaramot': Health dept seeks understanding on COVID-19 gear shortage

To date, there are 636 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including 38 deaths and 26 recoveries.

• Tracking COVID-19 cases in the Philippines

- With reports from Annie Perez and Christopher Mahilum, ABS-CBN News