The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has conducted a re-inspection on medical supplies stores in Manila and only three out of nine stores they checked have face masks.
Of the three stores, two were found to have been selling face masks priced higher than the suggested retail price.
N-95 masks which cost Php 109 are sold between Php 135 to Php 165 each.
Sellers defended their prices depend on supplier costs.
Meanwhile, DTI USec. Ruth Castelo said the move of the sellers is partly abusive since this is not the first time they’ve been caught engaged in the same activity. Some of them were reprimanded for selling low quality masks at a higher price.
“Kailangan suspendihin na or irevoke ng LGu ang business permit, we have recommendations already sa local government,” Castelo said.
“Piso lang nga ‘toh dapat eh, tingnan mo naman ang itsura papel… ‘Yung ganitong quality, hindi ito makakaprevent ng virus,” she added. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
