DTI, PNP should check hoarding of oxygen tanks as supply declines -Cebu City vice mayor

A Cebu City official on Tuesday urged the national government to order the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine National Police to look into supposed hoarding of oxygen tanks.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the COVID-19 situation in the area is a serious concern.

“The national government should direct DTI and I have also been telling the police the marching order [to] assist DTI to avoid hoarding,” he said.

A hospital owner also expressed concern about the limited number of available oxygen tanks, according to Rama, who is serving as an acting mayor.

Rama pointed out that the circulation of the oxygen tanks should be quick considering that hospitals cannot provide oxygen supply without the storage vessel.

He also called on private hospitals not to hoard oxygen tanks.

For him, those who hoard the supply of oxygen tanks might be selling them overpriced.

According to Rama, the usual concern of hospitals in the city was the lack of medical staff.

Due to this, he encouraged willing volunteers to apply as medical staff with a P10,000 incentive per month.

On Monday, it was reported that at least 30 patients, suspected of having COVID-19, received oxygen from tanks placed beside their cars while waiting to be admitted outside a private hospital in Cebu City. -MDM, GMA News