MANILA – The Suggested Retail Price (SRP) for face shields will not exceed P50, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday amid the growing demand due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DOH undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the recommended SRP was based on a “small survey” DOH conducted following coordination with experts regarding materials used in manufacturing face shields.
Ahead of the mandatory use, prices of the protective gear started to go up, with wholesale prices now at P40 a piece from P18 previously. Retail prices have also gone as high as P99.
In Western Visayas, prices of face shields, however, could be 10 percent higher than the SRP.
In a memorandum released on Wednesday afternoon, the DOH allowed a maximum 10-percent variation in the face shield’s SRP of between P26 to P50 in Region 6 to account for the distribution cost.
Earlier, the Department of Transportation announced that the wearing of face shields will be required for those taking public transport starting Aug. 15.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also required the wearing of face shields aside from face masks among employees in workplaces.
DOLE secretary Silvestre Bello said those who will not follow this health protocol would not be allowed to enter the workplace, while employers could be held administratively liable if this health measure will not be observed in the workplace.
“Non-observance will not result in closure of the workplace, huwag namang ganong kabigat… maaaring penalty lang siguro or reminder,” Bello said.
Face shields are personal protective equipment devices already in use by many health care personnel.
There are also makeshift versions of these where users utilize plastic binding covers; others use plastic bottles.
Dr. Marlyn Convocar, director of DOH-6, said face shields are most likely to reduce the spread of the viral illness.
She cited studies that the use of face shields in public places could block potential transmission of COVID-19 by up to 98 percent.
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth./PN