DTI secures over 100K face masks from local maker

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has secured over 100,000 N-88 masks from the country’s lone manufacturer, Medtecs International Corp. Ltd.

In a statement yesterday, DTI said it got the partial supply or 125,000 N-88 masks from Medtecs.

Of the 125,000 N-88 masks, 70,000 pieces were delivered and immediately donated to the Department of Health (DOH) and DTI regional offices and attached agencies.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the next batch of deliveries would make available 80,000 pieces to be donated to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

The PRC would then distribute the masks to more than 100 Red Cross offices nationwide.

To further augment the supply of masks, Medtecs has committed to double their production to be able to provide 400,000 masks per week.

Of the 400,000 masks to be provided weekly, 200,000 pieces will go to the DOH, while 100,000 pieces will be given to Red Cross and other government agencies.

Meanwhile, the remaining 100,000 pieces would be allocated to retailers like Mercury Drug and Southstar Drug for distribution nationwide.

With supply to be provided to retailers, the public could get access to masks.

Demand for masks has surged with consumers wanting to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus.

The virus which emerged in Wuhan in China, is marked by symptoms such as runny nose, cough, fever, pneumonia and breathing difficulties.

Last week, Lopez said DTI’s attached agency Philippine International Trading Corp. has been ordered to source surgical masks overseas to augment supply.

Among the identified sources of masks the country could tap are Thailand and India.