PIA Press Release
Monday, January 09, 2012 ‘Bantay Konsumo’ project stabilizes commodities’ prices, caution price increaseby David M. Suyao AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 9 (PIA) – Prices of basic commodities like meat, fish vegetables and canned goods are now almost similar in the market and in any store all over the town of San Francisco after the ‘Bantay Konsumo’ released a list of basic commodities with their suggested retail prices. According to Cirila Inson, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur provincial office, Mayor Jenny de Asis did not hesitate when she requested her to construct a small building in front of the public market to be made as ‘Bantay konsumo’ center where a list of basic commodities and other items sold in the market and other establishments will be posted and made available for the public to see. The price list is updated daily for customer reference at the Bantay kunsumo’ center located at the entrance of San Francisco Public Market. The center will also serve as complaint desk for customer to lay down their complaints. “Since the Bantay Konsumo center was established, many customers and vendors stop and see the day’s suggested prices of commodities. In this way, almost all vendors have the same prices of their commodities because they are cautious not to tag higher prices to their commodities because of the information posted at the center,” Inson said. During the ‘Diskwento Caravan’ held last Nov. 2011, the Bantay Konsumo center became popular, hearing people saying, “It’s much better now, we have a ready reference on the cost of the commodities sold here in our market.” Consumers say that the listing is a great help to them as the “end users” so that they can fix their budget before deciding to buy something. At the height of price instability last year, the Bantay Konsumo Task Force convened and discussed measures in order to act on the unstable prices of basic commodities, especially rice. Then came the idea of price monitoring by the Bantay Konsumo members where the idea of putting up a Bantay Konsumo Center was realized. (PIA-Caraga) | 
