MANILA, Philippines – People living in Metro Manila don’t really need to buy, wear – or hoard – N95 face masks amid the eruption of Taal Volcano, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.
The DOH made the clarification following the increase in the prices and demand for N95 mask and other similar protective gear after Taal ashfall reached parts of Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
“Pero dito po sa mga areas like Metro Manila, Region 3, yung mga areas po na nasabugan nga po ng ashfall, puwede naman po tayong gumamit ng not necessarily ng N95, but we can use the regular surgical mask,” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana said in a press briefing.
She also called on traders and the public to reserve available supplies of N95 face masks to people that need it the most, particularly those evacuated from the Taal Volcano 14-kilometer danger zone.
“Huwag na muna tayong gumamit ng N95 mask dito sa Metro manila, ibigay na po muna natin sa ating mga kababayan sa areas ng Batangas at Cavite,” she said.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday warned retailers taking advantage of the demand for face masks amid the eruption of Taal volcano.
“Kasi itong mga negosyante if the demand is high then magkakaroon tayo ng medyo magkulang, then the prices go up. Or the worst thing that they can do if they have enough supplies and yet they are selling it at prohibitive prices already. So I’m setting the limit,” Duterte said.
“Mura na man ‘yan, bakit…? Do not hoard it. ‘Pag itinago ninyo then I will be forced to order na pasukin ka,” he warned.
For people who cannot buy or get their hands on N95 face masks, the DOH said they may use alternatives to protect themselves from the dangers of volcanic ash.
They may use old t-shirts, cloth, bandana or wet strips of cloth to cover their nose and mouth to avoid inhalation of fine dust particles.
“Pinaka-critical lang po and very basic yung something moist, para yung ashfall mababara niya yung pagpasok ng ashfall, yung ingestion through the nose and through the mouth,” Laxamana said.
The DOH earlier warned the public of the hazards of Taal Volcano’s steam-driven explosion on Sunday, saying that exposure to volcanic ash can cause nose and throat irritation, coughing, bronchitis-like illness, discomfort while breathing, eye irritation and minor skin problems.
The department also advised the public to stay indoors, minimize exposure to ash and use dust masks.
The DOH, meanwhile, advised residents in Quezon and Laguna areas to prepare for possible ashfall from Taal Volcano as the wind direction is seen to shift in the following days. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)
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