DTI asks retailers to quickly restock N95 masks

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged local suppliers and major drug stores to immediately restock N95 masks in Luzon, particularly in Region 4-A and Metro Manila, which are heavily affected by the ashfall from the Taal Volcano eruption.

Among the actions suggested by DTI is bringing the N95 masks supplies from non-affected areas, such as Visayas and Mindanao to Luzon.

“Drug stores which temporarily ran out of supply are now assuring replenishment with no price increase,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters in a text message Wednesday.

DTI also asked foreign suppliers to speedily send stocks to the country.

Lopez particularly cited the firm MedTech which will ship more N95 masks from Taiwan, and will supply 1.2 million surgical masks from its facility in Bataan.

DTI vowed to continue mobilizing its monitoring teams in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Metro Manila to ensure that retailers are not selling overpriced face masks.

“While we recognize that the N95, surgical, and other similar masks as medical supplies are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health (DOH), the DTI readily dispersed its teams to monitor the prices and supply of these masks to assist the DOH and the consumers,” Lopez said.

He added the DTI has recommended to the DOH to set suggested retail prices (SRPs) on face masks ranging from PHP45 to PHP105 per piece depending on brands.