By Genalyn Kabiling The country has sufficient supply of disinfectant alcohol to help keep the coronavirus at bay but the government has imposed a purchase limit on the product to prevent hoarding, a Palace official said Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the public should not worry about the alcohol supply since manufacturers will still replenish the stocks in the markets. "Mayroon naman alcohol kaya lang nililimita. Now may mga lugar na talagang nauubusan pero nag-aantay lang po ng replenishment. Ang ating ginagawa diyan ay nililimitahan na natin ang puwedeng bilhin ng ating mga kababayan para sa ganoon lahat tayo ay magkaroon ng alcohol (We have alcohol supply but we have imposed a limit. There are places that run out of supply but are just waiting for replenishment. We have imposed a limit on the quantity that can be purchased so everyone will have alcohol)," he said during a Palace press briefing Monday. “Hindi tayo magkakaroon ng shortage. Nagkakaroon lang ng hoarding siguro. Huwag kayong mag-alala, sapat naman ang supply ng alcohol (We won't have a shortage. There may be hoarding probably but do not worry. We have enough supply of alcohol)," he said. Roque also cited that two liquor companies have ventured into the production of ethyl alcohol to boost the country's supply of disinfecting products to keep the coronavirus at bay. "Napakadami na rin initiatives ng mga private sector. 'Yung mga gumagawa ng inuming alkohol, mga alak, nagpo-produce na rin sila ng alcohol para sa ating mamamayan (There are many initiatives by the private sector. Those manufacturing alcohol, liquor are producing alcohol for our people)," he said. Following reports of panic buying in some stores, the Department of Trade and Industry earlier imposed a reasonable limit on the sale of basic necessities and health-related products such alcohol, hand sanitizers and other disinfectants. A person may only buy a maximum of two bottles of disinfectant alcohol and two bottles of hand sanitizer under the DTI guidelines. The purchase limit has been established to ensure a reasonable price and the table supply of such goods in the market. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez recently recognized the huge demand for rubbing alcohol and assured consumers that concerned companies are rushing the manufacture of these products. He said some companies went on 24-hour operation to increase alcohol production. "Nagkaka-supply ho sila, pero oras na paglapag ng supply sa groceries at supermarkets, mabilis hong nauubos kahit may tig-dadalawang limit. So ganoon ho kalakas iyong demand (They have supply but as soon as the supplies are dropped at groceries and supermarkets, the products are sold fast despite the two products per person limit. There is a huge demand)," he said over government television last week. Lopez noted that liquor companies like San Miguel Corporation and Destileria Limtuaco have also stepped up alcohol production to augment supplies in the market. "So mag-aabot-abot po iyan, huwag ho silang mag-alala (So the supply can be met. They don't have to worry)," he said. Attachments area