By Fernan Angeles
IN an apparent effort to ensure that every Filipino would be able to buy and comply on the mandatory use of face shields, the Department of Health has imposed a retail price ceiling for the highly-in-demand protective gadget.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that face shields should not be priced higher than P50 each.
However, Vergeire said that their suggested retail price (SRP) for face shields has yet been acted upon by Secretary Francisco Duque III. Only after then that they would be able to transmit it to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the final approval and implementation.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala [kasi] we made sure na hindi tataas ang presyo dahil based dun sa material na sinabi sa atin at mabibili ng ating mga kababayan nang hindi sila mahihirapan,” she said.
The DTI on Monday said it has asked the DOH to impose a SRP for face shields in line with its mandatory use in public transportation starting August 15.
Days before the effectivity of the mandatory use, prices of face shields have reportedly gone up, with wholesale prices now pegged at P40 each from P18 last week. Retail prices have also gone as high as P50.
Interestingly, Vergeire admitted that their recommended SRP is based on a “small survey” the DOH conducted following coordination with experts regarding materials used in manufacturing face shields.
“Nagpagawa kami ng small survey across the different markets of face shields dito sa ating bansa, pero bago namin ginawa ‘yan nakipag-usap kami sa ekperto kung ano bang klaseng material ang kailangan ng face sheild para maprotektahan ang ating mga consumers, ‘yung mga kababayan natin,” she said.
“Meron namang napag-agreehan at sinabi rin nung experts na ito yung material na kailangan, so with that material we were able to do a survey so nakapag-rekomenda na kami kahapon, sa ating Secretary of Health, kung magkano ang SRP na ilalagay natin diyan,” Vergeire added.