Despite there being ample supply of oxygen, there is still a shortage of cylinders due to the accumulation of said cylinders in houses, hospitals, and private laboratories, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in an interview with People’s Television Network (PTV) on Monday (Aug.16).
“Kahit na may oxygen tayo, saan natin ilalagay? Ang kailangan natin [ay] ‘yung cylinders, and we need these materials to circulate in the market. Hindi siya pwedeng maipon sa ospital or sa mga private laboratories or sa mga bahay,” she said.
“Kung cylinder and pag-uusapan, marami tayong cylinder. Kaya lang, siyempre kailangan they have to be collected. Kailangan silang maidala sa mga manufacturers to be refilled,” she added.
According to Castelo, it takes about 60 days to produce new cylinders and another 60 to 90 days to import them.
However, once the circulation of cylinders already in the country is done, there will be no problem in distributing oxygen supply.
“If we circulate what we already have in the market, ‘yung mga andito na, wala tayong problema kasi kayang-kaya yan i-refill in time. Producers say it takes only around 20 to 40 minutes para mag-refill ng isang tangke kasama na ang preparation time,” she said.
“Kung isa lang naman ang i-store natin sa bahay, ‘wag na natin i-store. Ilabas nalang natin para umikot sa circulation. Mas magagamit ng ospital. Magagamit ng mga laboratories, ‘yung mga talagang nangangailangan,” she added.
Castelo also warned the public against buying oxygen tanks from online stores.
“People have also to be careful kung saan nila binibili, lalo na kung online ‘yan. Kailangan kasi ng prescription. Hindi mo pwedeng gamitin yung oxygen na you self-administer it or sa bahay ka lang na hindi naman sinasabi ng doctor,” she said.
“‘Yung pinaglalagyan ng oxygen [ay] may standards ‘yan issued by the Bureau of Philippine Standards. So, kung online natin binili yan at hindi naman natin sigurado kung dumaan sa quality testing, ‘wag na natin bilhin lalo na kung di naman natin kailangan at wala tayong prescription,” she added.
-With reports from Cleizl Pardilla/PG-rir
