Mask-mahal

I cannot wrap my head around the billions and billions being thrown about in the Senate inquiry into the Pharmally deals with the government.

What I can say is this: Last year, after Taal Volcano erupted in January and people began wearing face masks, I bought some at P5 each, which my friend said was expensive because she bought masks for only P2 each.

Then came COVID and masks became very scarce and, when available, very expensive. Around March, I made pakiusap with a relative who works with a company making paper products that was expanding to making masks to get some for my family; the price was P12.50 each, payment upon order. After two months, the price became P15 each.

Although I had to buy in bulk (like 10 boxes) it was still retail, so I imagine it would have been cheaper wholesale, but not even in the millions of pieces as in the Pharmacy deals. So my simple mind cannot comprehend the P20-plus (up to P27.72) per piece price the government paid Pharmally for the masks (over 10 million pieces total) at around the same time I was buying my P12.50 and P15 masks – April 2020.

How then can those Pharmally deals be above board? – Beth Co-Tan, Quezon City