Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government mulls an increase to up to P12 apiece the suggested retail price (SRP) on N88 surgical masks as global demand has pushed production cost at P8 apiece, the current maximum SRP.
Lopez said he has recommended to the Department of Health the imposition of the new SRP.
Lopez also said he has recommended to the Department of Agriculture (DA) the imposition of SRPs on galunggong and refined sugar.
Undersecretary Ruth Castelo of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said lone mask manufacturer Taiwanese-Singaporean MedTecs located in Bataan has expressed raw material costs have gone up since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Castelo said MedTecs had to adjust the level of production but that the company had committed to supply the Philippines up to 400,000 masks per week of which 300,000 will go to the DOH for public health workers.
Castelo said this volume is on top of the 140,000 masks MedTecs donated earlier. Of that volume, about 80,000 went to the Red Cross and 30,000 each went to DOH and the DTI.
Castelo said MedTecs also assured supply to retailers Mercury Drug, Southstar Drug and Watsons
According to Castelo, the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) has Also been seeking suppliers from abroad to link them to local drug stores to ensure steady supply for consumers.
She said PITC finds the acquisition cost to be high but did not elaborate.
