DTI raises purchase limit on essential goods

Aside from these two products, the department also increased the allowed quantity per transaction for purchasing hand sanitizers and disinfecting liquids. (File photo: Anshu A/Unsplash)

MANILA – From two bottles of disinfecting alcohol and five pieces of face masks per transaction, consumers can now buy up to five bottles of alcohol and one box of face masks in supermarkets as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) eases the purchase limit on essential goods.

The DTI released Memorandum Circular (MC) No.20-36 amending the MC 20-07 and 20-10 that sets a limit in buying food and non-food products to avoid hoarding and panic buying.

Under the latest MC, DTI lifted the purchase limit of essential goods, except for some non-food products.

There will be no quantity limit in buying instant noodles, canned sardines, canned milk, powdered milk, instant coffee, and mineral water.

But DTI still set purchase limits on non-food products like alcohol and face masks.

Aside from these two products, the department also increased the allowed quantity per transaction for purchasing hand sanitizers and disinfecting liquids.

Consumers can now buy up hand sanitizers and disinfecting liquid up to three bottles if the size is more than one liter and up to five bottles if they are one liter and below.

According to the MC, supplies of these products are “sufficient to cover consumer demand during the period of community quarantine”.

It added hoarding and panic buying are no longer observed in the market.

Some manufacturing firms repurposed their factories into producing essential goods during the Covid-19 outbreak in the country to augment the supply in the local market.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said the country now produces over 20 million face masks in a month.