The Department of Health (DOH) released on Wednesday the suggested retail price (SRP) of non-medical face shield made of acetate or clear plastic.
Starting today, the cost of the said face shields should be within the Php 26.00 to Php 50.00 range. Before the SRP was set, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Protection Group (CPG) in its inspection on Wednesday found out that the price of basic face shields in Bambang reached up to Php 120.00. Some were also sold for Php 60.00 to Php 70.00.
Violators of the SRP may face up to Php 2 million maximum penalty.
“Hindi rin kasi alam natin kung magkano before, hindi siya 100 pesos. Nasa 30, 35, 45 pesos lang ‘yung binebenta nila. Ngayong 100 pesos it’s unfair and already a violation of the consumer act (We do now know how much it costs before, it was not Php 100.00, it was around Php 30.00, Php 35.00, Php 45.00. Now that it is Php 100.00, it’s unfair and already a violation of the consumer act),” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.
The DTI is encouraging the public to resort to DIY face shields to save money and avoid deception.
– Report from Naomi Tiburcio
