DTI eases limit on purchase of masks, food

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has eased the purchase limit on masks and other essential products, saying supply has stabilized.

“Now we have abundant supply of masks and that is the reason

why just two days ago we have increased the limit on mask purchases to 50 [per person] from the earLIER fiVE-PIECE [LIMIT],” TRADE SECretary Ramon Lopez said during the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

“We have also removed the limitations in buying canned goods, instant noodles and all other essential items,” he added.

Lopez said the ample supply of masks in the market was because of manufacturers’ move to repurpose their factories to produce medical supplies.

“During the pandemic, until now, we have encouraged manufacturers to repurpose their factories. This is like during a war, we encourage some of the manufacturers to shift some of their production facilities to support some of the requirements of the government,” he explained.

“We encouraged manufacturers to do masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), coveralls, ventilators to improve and increase self- reliance of these products because at the height of the pandemic, even other countries were not supplying our requirements that is why in the early days of the quarantine we were encountering supply shortages particularly of masks,” he added.

In March, the DTI issued a circular, which set limits on the volume of masks, alcohol and food products that each consumer can purchase.