Both the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have reminded retailers not to sell face shields beyond the Suggested Retail Price (SRP).

Dr. Feman Rene Autajay, DOH Antique team leader, said in an interview Monday that local retailers of face shields are reminded to abide by the Department Memorandum Number 2020-0345 signed by DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque dated August 10 about the updated SRP.

“We are reminding those selling face shields not to overprice the items, but rather to abide with the SRP,” he said.

Face shield had been required by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) among public commuters starting last August 15, and is being considered a medical device by the DOH against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

According to the DOH Memorandum, the SRP of a clear plastic or acetate material with full face coverage is from PHP26 to PHP50.

Meanwhile, DTI Antique Provincial Office Trade and Development Specialist Glen Fernando, in a separate interview, said they were able to monitor 10 stores selling face shields here since August 7.

He said the prices of the face shield range from PHP35 to PHP100.

“A garterized face shield with no brand is being sold at 35 pesos while the eyeglass type Heng De is sold at 100 pesos,” he said.

He said that local stores explained that they could not reduce the price of face shields because of the very small profit margin given them by the bigger stores supplying these products.

“There are stores that are just buying their face shields from the bigger stores only in Antique while there are also stores that buy the face shield through online from a supplier in Metro Manila,” he said.

He said with the issuance of the DOH Memorandum, the DTI is being tasked to monitor their price of face shields once a week. (PNA)