Buyers check the available medical oxygen tanks in a supply store in Manila. There is no shortage of oxygen supply in the Philippines amid the COVID pandemic, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. Secretary Ramon Lopez says there was even a surplus of supply but warned that DTI would be running after erring distributors and hoarders of oxygen tanks. ABS-CBN NEWS

MANILA – There is no shortage of oxygen in tanks amid the recent steep increase in coronavirus disease 209 (COVID-19) cases, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Trade and Industry secretary Ramon Lopez warned erring distributors, and hoarders of oxygen tanks, that the department would be running after them.

“Hoarding especially at this time is a crime and our economic intelligence team will run after erring distributors or re-fillers,” Lopez stressed.

“Based on reports from industry, for now, the increase in demand for cylinder tanks is coming more from the households trying to buy for their personal need, either current or potential emergency need,” he added.

According to the Philippine National Police, it would investigate the possible hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies amid the continuing threat of COVID-19.

Lopez stated that there was even a suprlus of oxygen supply in the country. He said: “Current industry capacity is about three times more than the current demand. There is a surplus from the producers’ side.”

“The current capacity surplus includes both the medical and industrial oxygen capacity, and the latter can also be allocated to produce medical oxygen if and when necessary,” he went on.

The secretary made remarks after Cebu City vice mayor Michael Rama on Tuesday urged the national government to ask the police and the DTI to look into the supposed hoarding of oxygen tanks.

Rama said the circulation of the oxygen tanks should be quick considering that hospitals cannot provide oxygen supply without the storage vessel. He also called on private hospitals not to hoard oxygen tanks.

For the Cebu City vice mayor, those who hoard the supply of oxygen tanks could be overpricing.

Lopez said that queuing would happen when there’s a sudden increase in demand for cylinder tanks in specific areas and cylinder tanks deployment should eventually follow where the demand was.

“Theres is a surplus on the production side of oxygen, per se. And the producers have not increased their prices,” the official continued.

DTI had already asked the Department of Health to procure and stockpile oxygen cylinder tanks and regulators in case the Delta variant will cause a surge. It has also encouraged oxygen manufacturers to expand their current capacities.(GMA News)

Original reference: Oxygen supply in PH more than enough – DTI (panaynews.net)