Mayor Benjamin Magalong welcomed the move of the Department of Health in setting the suggested retail price (SRP) of non-medical grade face shields at P26 to P50.
Magalong said the price ceiling will give teeth to the city’s ongoing campaign against enterprising individuals who unconscionably raised the prices of face shields following orders mandating the use of the medical gadgets in offices and in public transportation as added protection against the Covid-19.
Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Director Myrna Pablo informed the mayor of the issuance of Department Order 345 by Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, which set an updated SRP “for emergency essential medicines and medical devices” due to the Covid-19 including face shields.
Pablo said that with the SRP as basis, the city government can suspend operations, revoke, or cancel business permits of establishments selling overpriced face shields.
The order also gave the technical description of the non-medical grade face shield for community use as “clear plastic or acetate material that provides good visibility and fog resistance; and has adjustable band to attach firmly around the head, fits snuggly against the forehead, full face coverage (completely cover the sides and length of the face), made of robust material that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, disposable or reusable.”
Pablo said an SRP will also be set for the medical grade types of face shields. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
April 25, 2024
