Councilor calls for price freeze in Oro

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

COUNCILOR George Goking yesterday called on the Department of Trade and Industry to fix prices of basic commodities in the city at particular levels and disallow increases amid fears of the impact of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Goking, chairman of the city council’s committee on trade and commerce, said the DTI should put in effect a price freeze in the city because it is still under a state of calamity, and because of the Mindanao martial law.

The city council placed the entire city under a state of calamity as a result of the floodings and damages caused by tropical storm “Vinta” here before Christmas day.

Goking said another reason why there should be a price freeze in the city is because of the extension of martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31, this year.

“Mas maayo gyud unta nga na-ay declaration ang DTI sa price freeze kay na-a man ta karon under sa state of calamity ug martial law pa gyud,” he said.

Prices of basic commodities are seen to shoot up starting this month as a result of “Train” or the new tax reform law. Fuel alone is expected to increase by some P3 per liter this month as a result of the petroleum tax.

This year, the prices of regular and premium unleaded gas would increase by P7 a liter, P9 next year, and P10 by 2021.

Diesel prices would increase by P2.50 a liter this year up to P6 by 2020.

Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, co- chairman of city hall’s price monitoring council, said the group would meet with DTI officials headed by director Ma. Eliza Pabillore, the city council’s trade committee under Goking and local business leaders to assess the impact of the tax reform law on the prices of basic commodities.

But so far, the new tax law has had no impact yet on the prices of basic commodities here, according to Uy.

Uy said he did not expect “Train” to have an immediate effect on prices of commodities here.

He said officials would assess the situation and map out plans to cushion the impact of the new tax schedules on prices of goods.

Uy said the price council would soon go the rounds in order to inspect establishments and monitor prices so as to prevent profiteering.

“Among monitoron kon na-a bay overpricing o wala sa presyo sa basic commodities,” he said.

Despite the declaration of a state of calamity in the city in December 2017, Uy said, there no price freeze has been put in effect in the city due to “Vinta”.

“Ang mo-declare anang price freeze ang DTI man pero wala pay report nga na-ay price freeze karon dinhi sa ato,” he said.

Uy said the possibility of a price freeze would be tackled by city hall and DTI officials and business executives before the weekend.