President Rodrigo Duterte expressed doubts regarding the supposed expiration of face shields.
The Chief Executive raised questions on the matter after an executive of the Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. said that the company changed the expiration dates on the face masks and face shields that the government procured.
"Paano ito mag-expire? Unless abusuhin mo, itapon-tapon mo. Pero kung isuot mo lang at ilagay mo nang magandang pagkalagay, ganoon, paanong magexpire ‘yan," the President said during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
"Well, mag-expire, but maybe in about, it would take about 10, 15 years. Iyan mag-expire ‘yan dahil sa scratches. Pag-alaga, hindi sa pag-alaga. Eh kung maalagaan mo lang ‘yan, matagal ‘yan," he added.
Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III explained that medical-grade face shields have foam and garter which would detoriorate over time.
"Iyong foam iyon ang nagiging, nagde-deteriorate sa mahabang panahon. Brittle and nagiging powder, sir, at saka 'yung kanyang garter nagiging brittle din at 'yun ang tinatawag natin na may shelf life of about 36 months," Duque said during that same meeting.
"Ibig sabihin ng shelf life, kung iiwanan mo sa isang lugar, sa estante naka-plastic 'yan na hindi mo gagalawin, dapat siya tatagal ng 36 months. At ang in particular iyong kanyang foam ay dapat tumagal at ang kanyang garter ay dapat tumagal po ng 36 na buwan," he added.
During the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Friday, September 24, Krizle Grace Mago, regulatory affairs head of Pharmally, confirmed that the management ordered workers to change the certification stickers of face shields from 2020 to 2021.
