By Jeffrey Damicog
The supply of medical products like alcohol and face masks have finally caught up with demand, Department of Trade Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Saturday, May 23.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “Nakakahabol na ang supply sa demand lalo na diyan sa alcohol at tsaka sa face masks (Supply has caught up with demand especially for alcohol and face masks),” he said during the Laging Handa media briefing. Because of this, Lopez noted that the DTI has allowed more alcohol allocations to consumers from five pieces to 10 pieces. Lopez attributed the rise in supply partly to increasing number of local manufacturers. “Tinutulak po ng DTI itong mula noong umpisa ay ma-encourage ang mga local manufactuers na pumasok at gumawa rin ng mga ganito critical health products (The DTI has been pushing from the start for local manufacturers to enter into producing critical health products),” the Secretary said. He noted that the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service has also been prioritizing procurement from local manufacturers. “Para ho ang pera ng bayan, ang government budget nagagamit at napupunta sa mga local manufacturer, hindi po lumalabas ng ating bansa (So that the people’s money goes to local manufacturers and no longer go out of the country),” he said. “Ang makikinabang po ang mga empleyado dito sa local manufacturing sector (Employees of local manufacturers will benefit from this),” he added. On the other hand, Lopez lauded law enforcement including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in catching hoarders and profiteers who have been taking advantage of the ongoing pandemic caused by the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “Maganda nga ho itong partnership natin with NBI at tsaka ng kapulisan, particularly CIDG, na marami na tayong nahuli (We have a good partnership with the NBI and PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group which have arrested violators),” he said. “Kulang sa 500 na ang mga na-aresto diyan dahil sa mahigpit na pag-implement ng batas na ito (Almost 500 persons have been arrested due to the strict implementation of the law),” Lopez cited.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “Nakakahabol na ang supply sa demand lalo na diyan sa alcohol at tsaka sa face masks (Supply has caught up with demand especially for alcohol and face masks),” he said during the Laging Handa media briefing. Because of this, Lopez noted that the DTI has allowed more alcohol allocations to consumers from five pieces to 10 pieces. Lopez attributed the rise in supply partly to increasing number of local manufacturers. “Tinutulak po ng DTI itong mula noong umpisa ay ma-encourage ang mga local manufactuers na pumasok at gumawa rin ng mga ganito critical health products (The DTI has been pushing from the start for local manufacturers to enter into producing critical health products),” the Secretary said. He noted that the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service has also been prioritizing procurement from local manufacturers. “Para ho ang pera ng bayan, ang government budget nagagamit at napupunta sa mga local manufacturer, hindi po lumalabas ng ating bansa (So that the people’s money goes to local manufacturers and no longer go out of the country),” he said. “Ang makikinabang po ang mga empleyado dito sa local manufacturing sector (Employees of local manufacturers will benefit from this),” he added. On the other hand, Lopez lauded law enforcement including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in catching hoarders and profiteers who have been taking advantage of the ongoing pandemic caused by the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “Maganda nga ho itong partnership natin with NBI at tsaka ng kapulisan, particularly CIDG, na marami na tayong nahuli (We have a good partnership with the NBI and PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group which have arrested violators),” he said. “Kulang sa 500 na ang mga na-aresto diyan dahil sa mahigpit na pag-implement ng batas na ito (Almost 500 persons have been arrested due to the strict implementation of the law),” Lopez cited.