THE Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao has urged the public to report to its office cases of face mask hoarding and overpricing.
PRO-Davao Director Filmore Escobal said the move was in accordance with the directive from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters to monitor the selling of overpriced masks, especially the pharmaceutical firms that might be profiteering from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare.
"Kung may impormasyon man kayo sa mga mapagsamantalang tao na nagbebenta ng masks sa mataas na halaga, maaripo lamang ipagbigay alam sa pinakamalapit na police stations sa kanilang lugar," Escobal said.
The PRO vowed to assist the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) against illegal traders who might take advantage of the public by overpricing their supplies on the heels of the epidemic.
Earlier, when the new strain of coronavirus broke out, consumers rushed to pharmacies for surgical masks and medical supplies. Surgical masks sold like hotcakes as the demand for it grew.
But authorities earlier clarified that there is no need to wear face masks unless the person is not feeling well and would need to be in public places.
At present, the PRO has yet to receive proper reports of overpricing in the city.
"Pagka-ingatan po natin ang ating mga sarili at tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayan laban sa mga mapagsamantalang negosyante sa pamamagitan ng pag-monitor sa mga presyo ng masks," he said.