CAGAYAN de Oro City councilor George Goking on Friday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to step up its price monitoring of basic commodities especially rice, in the city.
Goking, chair of the city council’s committee on trade and commerce, even warned that callous traders may be taking advantage of the situation to rake in profits and blame the prices brought out of global oil price hike.
Earlier last month, the global commodity prices, including those used as fuel for power generation such as coal and gas, have also surged.
“Profiteering does not pay," according to Goking.
He said that government must make it clear that if businesses try to illegally pad their profits, they will literally pay for their crimes.
Goking usually closely monitoring the prices of basic commodities, especially rice, in the city.
Like, DTI, Goking also urged manufacturers and retailers of Noche Buena products to maintain their current prices for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
Goking said keeping prices of these products will be a relief for Filipinos who will be celebrating the Christmas season in a pandemic for two straight years.
“I am hoping that manufacturers not to increase prices of Christmas products this coming months,” said Goking adding that or if they need to increase, only at the absolute minimum level.
Last year, the DTI convinced suppliers of these products to maintain their 2020 suggested retail prices (SRPs).
Goking said he is expected the DTI will issue the SRP list for Noche Buena products by the end of November to early December.
Earlier, Goking said that the sudden increase in the price of petroleum products causes so much burden to the people considering the pandemic.
“People are still recovering as some have lost their jobs,” he said.
It can be recalled that the Goking had worked on the problem of high prices of rice in past years and quality of products in the market, which people have been enjoying until now.
The cooperation and understanding of businessmen is much needed, according to Goking.
During session, Goking still hoping businesses in the city will recover and will be able to create more jobs, as he moves to discuss the present situation with petroleum dealers. (Ben Balce)
