The Department of Trade and Industry is mulling whether or not to allow stores and pharmacies to sell surgical masks at higher prices due to increasing cost of raw materials here and abroad amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that from the current suggested retail price of P8 per piece, prices of face masks could be raised to P10 to P12 each.
“Oo, kinoconsider natin dahil iba-iba na ‘yong costing ngayon sa labas, mga suppliers sa ibang bansa,” Lopez said.
“Dito lamang, ang raw material sa atin, nagtaasan. Kaya dito lang, ‘yong ating supplier sa Bataan, ang kanilang binigay na cost sa atin ay P8 na piece, dati mga P1 to P2 lang dati, kasi wala pang crisis. Pero nong nagumpisa na itong kahigpitan ng raw materials sa world market, tumaas na mga cost. Sa ibang bansa, nag-P25 to P50 per piece,” he explained.
Lopez said local producers committed keep their costs at P8 per piece at most. Drug stores, however, were concerned since they would have no room for profit under the current SRP.
“Kinausap natin ngayon uli, papayag na sila ngayon na kumuha at P8 kung maiaakyat na sa P10 ang SRP,” he said. “Basta payagan natin ng additional P2 lang. Kung P8 ang kuha then P10 ang SRP. Kung P10, P12 lang,” he added. (Vanne Terrazola)