The government will resort to the importation of up to 10 million N88 or surgical masks to augment local supply but limited stocks due to worldwide demand may make it difficult to purchase immediately.
This is in the wake of the growing cases of the 2019 coronavirus acute respiratory diseases in China and 23 other countries.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said for now, government will turn to the lone local supplier, MedTecs, in providing the market with the much-needed masks.
Lopez said MedTecs has committed to deliver 100,000 masks this week and about 400,000 per week thereafter.
He said priority will, however, be given to health workers of the Department of Health (DOH).
Lopez said the government’s trading arm, the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) which was tasked to look for suppliers from various sources is still checking availability of masks.
Lopez had said PITC could initially purchase 5 million masks but it can buy another 5 million if necessary.
He said he has asked the DOH to fund the purchase and distribute the masks for free
However, if the PITC funds the importation, the agency will sell the masks to retailers which will be under strict requirement to resell them within suggested retail prices.
“What’s important is we have the supply,” Lopez added.
