'Crack down on sellers of sub-standard masks,' NTF urges DTI

The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 is urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to run after sellers of imported face masks that are of low quality.

NTF Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said he received reports about the presence of imported face masks in the market which did not pass the country's health standards but are still being sold at a much cheaper price.

"We will talk to DTI. I have been informed of this," Galvez admitted when asked about the matter.

After learning about the rampant selling of sub-standard face masks, Galvez said he made an initial coordination with DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez tolook into the matter.

"Sabi niya, we will regulate 'yong ano kasi ang face mask na hindi maganda will give a fall sense of security (According to , we will regulate it because sub-standard face masks will give a false sense of security)," the chief implementer said.

The government ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places as part of the minimum health standard to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The DTI has urged the Filipinos to buy locally-made face masks especially after the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets is made mandatory through a provision in the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2.

According to the DTI, the country is now able to produce 60 million face masks every month, a 900-percent boost from the 6 million production in January. 

This output is projected to increase to 66.4 million by the end of the year.