MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has lifted the quantity restrictions on essential items such as alcohol and facemasks after months of strict community quarantine when the incidence of hoarding and profiteering was rampant.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the limits were lifted after the Department managed a healthy inventory of supplies.
“Now we have an abundant supply of masks, and that’s the reason why just recently, about two days ago we are removing these limits in purchases,” he said.
“We have also increased the limits, let’s say, on mask purchases to one box of 50. Dati ‘yan five pieces lang [Previously, it was limited to five pieces only],” he added.
Currently, each box of 50 pieces of surgical mask costs around P300 to P500 while N95 masks cost around P400 to P500 per 10 pieces in Bambang, Manila.
Disinfecting alcohol, meanwhile, slightly increased in prices by P10 with each bottle now ranging from P85 to P500, depending on the volume.
Aside from medical supplies, the DTI also lifted the caps imposed for the sale and purchase of other basic commodities, such as canned sardines, instant noodles, canned and powdered milk, instant coffee, bread loaf, detergent soap, toothpaste, canned pork, canned beef, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce, and dried fish. MNP (with details from Joan Nano)
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