THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday called on local government officials to reactivate their respective local price coordinating councils in the wake of unabated price increases of prime commodities.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also urged local officials to work with the National Police in monitoring runaway profiteers to ensure consumer rights are protected.
Año said price councils should conduct regular inspection of public and private markets, address reported advances made by local traders, and deputize barangay officials and non-government organizations to monitor abnormal price increases.
He directed the price councils to conduct an in-depth analysis on the causes of price adjustments, suggest action steps to correct unwarranted price increases and supply shortages, and recommend suggested retail prices to government agencies.
Año said the police should closely coordinate with concerned agencies of the government and be more proactive in enforcing Republic Act 10623, which amended the Price Act or the Philippine Competition Act, and other related laws.
RA 10623 provides protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities and by prescribing measures against undue price increases during emergency situations and like occasions.
RA 10667 prohibits Anti-Competitive Agreements between or among competitors such as restricting competition as to price, or its components, or other terms of trade; and fixing price at an auction or in any form of bidding including cover bidding, bid suppression, bid rotation and market allocation and other analogous practices of bid manipulation.
“The bottom line is we should protect the interest of the consumers. It is hoped that the greedy businessmen would not torment our people by imposing unfair price increase on prime commodities,” he said.
Año also called on concerned local chief executives, the DILG regional directors, and field offices to continue to report incidents of hoarding and unreasonable price manipulations of essential commodities in certain localities. (pna)
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