The City Government of San Fernando, thru the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), conducted a price monitoring on medical supplies among major drugstores, pharmacies, and retailers around the Poblacion area on Monday.
The City Marketing Operations Division (CMOD), together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), led the inspection which aims to closely monitor the prices of basic and prime commodities especially medical supplies like surgical masks and N95 face masks.
Nathaniel M. Samson, Chief of the Consumer Protection Division of DTI Pampanga, said that the agency is working hand in hand with the city to regulate the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) for medical supplies issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
“We are conducting this activity to ensure that these drugstores are following the SRP set by DOH. Anyone proven to exceed in the price range given by DOH will be subjected to a case of profiteering which has a penalty of P500 to P2 million especially ngayon sa gitna ng calamity mas severe yung penalty for violators,” Samson explained.
The LCPCC is particularly monitoring the supply and prices of face masks, alcohol and other medical supplies as demand for these products continues to surge due to the public’s fear of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
“Nag start kasi yan sa Taal eruption. Ang ginawa ng mga suppliers hindi muna sila nagsupply sa di apektadong mga lugar. Binigyang priority yung affected areas ng Taal eruption. And then pumasok yung nCoV. Ang problema ng supply hindi na lang problema ng Pilipinas, problem na rin ng buong mundo ngayon kaya sana ‘wag nang mag-take advantage ang mga retailers and medical stores,” Samson said.
Meanwhile, Mila D. Rivera, Market Supervisor II of the City Market Operations Division, encouraged all Fernandinos to avoid buying surgical mask from street vendors and instead go to licensed drugstores.
“Yung quality and component ng face mask na binebenta nila hindi natin sigurado if pasado. Mas maganda kung sa drugstore kasi regulated sila. Another, yung danger sa pagbili sa bangketa, ngayon nandito sila pero bukas wala na kasi mobile nga sila,” she stressed.
Rivera also advised consumers to report to them any store overpricing medical supplies.
Violators will be referred to the Business License and Permit Division as subject for closure.
“Better kung may proof sila kasi for sure ide-deny yan ng mga vendors. At maganda sa drugstore sila bumili kasi meron silang license from DOH na pag lumabag sila talagang may kaakibat na parusa. Hindi sila mabibigyan ng LTO or License to Operate,” Rivera explained.
For his part, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago reminded Fernandinos to be vigilant and retailers of medical supplies to not take advantage of the situation.
Consumers are enjoined to report to the DTI all retailers and suppliers selling overpriced masks by reporting them to the nearest DTI Provincial Office or thru the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline.
The following are the suggested retail prices of some products set by the DOH:
N95– P45.00 to P100.00
Disposable Face Mask—P1.10 to P8.00
Ethyl Alcohol 70% Solution 60 mL—P17.25 to P25.50
Ethyl Alcohol 70% Solution 250 mL—P36.75 to 41.75
Ethyl Alcohol 70% Solution 500 mL—P61.00 to 74.25