By Marjaleen Ramos
Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association President Steven Cua on Tuesday advised the public to avoid panic buying of sanitation supplies amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
"Panic buying has no place in society. Once it happens, those who have money will be able to stock up and those who have less will not be able to buy the things they need," Cua said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
Cua said there has been already some spike in the buying of masks, adding that eventually it will likely be the case for alcohol and other personal hygiene products.
"I'm sure manufacturers have increased their production knowing that the coronavirus isn't going away soon. It's just start if people start panic buying, everyone's going to run out of supplies," he said.
“There's no need to really panic. Yes, you just have to be careful, but there is no need to stock up because the hospitals themselves are already buying. Just buy what you need… twice what you need, but that's about it,” Cua added.
As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached 24.
President Duterte placed the country under a State of Public Health Emergency on Monday following the resurgence of the COVID-19 cases in the country and the confirmation of its local transmission.