Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Northern Mindanao is stern in warning businesses and individuals not to take advantage of the public’s sudden demand of face masks or they may face possible charges.

DTI has been monitoring the price and supply of medical supplies, including N95 and N88 disposable face masks.

Immediately a day after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first 2019-nCoV case in the country last January 30, 2020, DTI Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental mobilized their team for special price and supply monitoring of medical supplies, specifically the N95 and disposable masks.

DTI Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental followed with their price and supply monitoring on Monday, February 3, 2020.

Results of the special monitoring showed that stocks of disposable face masks are no longer available in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental. Only the province of Misamis Occidental reported to have limited availability of face masks with price ranging from P2 to P8 for disposable face masks and P50 to P180 for N95.

Watsons in Bukidnon reported that new supplies are expected to arrive within the week but the establishment is still waiting for confirmation if disposable face masks are included in the delivery.

Other medical supplies are available in Northern Mindanao, although Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental are experiencing depleting stocks of Ethyl Alcohol (70% solution).

DTI Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental have also created task forces in coordination with their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) and other government agencies to help address the concern on the price surge and limited supply of disposable face masks.

With the local task forces, DTI continues to protect the consuming public by intensifying its monitoring efforts through weekly monitoring of prices and supplies to ensure businesses and individuals are not selling above the prevailing prices.♦

Date of Release: 4 February 2020