Amid the community quarantine, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 20-36, amending the previously issued circulars on Anti- Hoarding and Anti-Panic Buying, MC 20-07, MC-20-10 and MC 20-25 that limit consumer purchase on essential and vital products.
Under the latest circular, the general public can now purchase a maximum of five (5) bottles for sizes of 1Liter and below and a maximum of three (3) for sizes more than 1Liter for products such as disinfecting alcohol, hand sanitizers, and disinfecting liquids.
Meanwhile, a maximum of 50 pieces of face mask per person, whether N95 or N88 may now be availed of under MC 20-36 as compared to 10 pieces previously in MC 20-25.
| Disinfecting alcohol | 5 bottles for sizes one liter and below 3 bottles for sizes more than one liter |
| Hand sanitizers | 5 bottles for sizes one liter and below 3 bottles for sizes more than one liter |
| Disinfecting liquids | 5 bottles for sizes one liter and below 3 bottles for sizes more than one liter |
| Face Masks
(N95 and N88) |
1 box of 50 pieces |
It can be recalled that the quantity limits for alcohol, sanitizers, and disinfecting liquids were limited to two (2) pieces regardless of size under MC 20-07 which was issued last March 2020.
Further, under MC-20-36, the quantity limits for basic necessities and prime commodities such as locally produced instant noodles, canned sardines, canned regular milk, powdered milk in sachet, instant coffee in sachet, mineral water, loaf bread, canned pork, canned beef, detergent soap, bath soap, and condiments have been lifted.
“As we continue the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while at the same time adjusting to the new normal, our manufacturers and retailers continue to assure us of the sufficiency of supply of finished goods as well as raw materials necessary for production of these basic necessities and prime commodities, hence the need to relax the restrictions on some products and increase the quantity of limit per transaction for those that are vital and essential during this pandemic”, says DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo.
The Department enjoins the consumers to always observe physical distancing when doing grocery shopping or doing business outside their homes and to always sanitize their hands.
For consumer-related concerns and queries, you may send an email to ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph or reach us thru the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline.
