Sellers warned vs. jacking up prices of N95 masks

The government has warned businesses and individual sellers who would take advantage of the eruption of Taal Volcano and the resultant ashfall by jacking up the prices of N95 masks, a protection from breathing in hazardous particles.

According to Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, sellers of N95 masks could be charged for profiteering if they increase the prices of the masks amid its high demand.

Lopez told GMA News that DTI price monitoring teams have been deployed to check the supply and prices of N95 masks after reports that consumers have been buying boxes of the mask.

“I have asked our price monitoring teams to go out and check the supply and prices and be ready to charge profiteering for erring traders,” he said.

To ensure that consumers will have enough supply of N95 masks, Lopez said, “We will suggest to retailers to ration or limit purchase per customer.”

The Department of Health (DOH) has likewise appealed to businesses not to overprice and hoard N95 masks.

“Huwag sanang samantalahin yung situation. Huwag naman sanang taasan yung presyo. At huwag naman po tayong mag-hoard,” said Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo at a press conference.

“Kasi mas gusto nating magkaroon yung talagang at risk, meaning ito ‘yung may hika, may sakit sa baga na talagang nahihirapan nang huminga. Sila ‘yung una nating gustong protektahan,” he added.

PHIVOLCS has raised Alert Level 4 over the Taal Volcano, hours after a phreatic eruption took place at the crater on Sunday. —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News