Capiz implements price control
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Roxas City (9 July) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the local government units in Capiz, now implements price control on basic commodities here.
Angelita Colmo, Officer-In-Charge of said office in Capiz, said that the Capiz Governor Victor Tanco has already ordered the implementation of price control over basic needs and commodities here after Capiceņos have been clamoring of high prices of basic needs amidst the recent calamity that hit the province.
Colmo said that a team was recently formed to conduct intensive monitoring of prices, particularly rice and other goods in the market.
Capiz has been declared as under the state of calamity after typhoon Frank hardly hit the province destroying the lives and properties of Capiceņos.
Based on the meeting of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) in Capiz, the council agreed that the price of well-milled rice in the market should not be more than 38.00 per kilogram while the ceiling price for the regular milled rice should be P35.00 per kilogram.
Should rice traders sell more than the automatic price control, appropriate sanctions against profiteering will be filed against them, Colmo said.
She added that the DTI here has also made an automatic price control over other basic commodities like canned sardines, processed milk, coffee, detergent and laundry soap, bread, salt and candles.
Colmo also disclosed that they are also set to conduct a meeting this Thursday with retailers of construction materials in Capiz to inform them of the mandated selling price of construction materials like cement, common wire, tie wire, GI sheets and steel bars.
Gov. Tanco has also ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here to suspend the shipment of nipa shingles outside the province of Capiz.
Tanco further ordered to restrict the milling of palay and sale of rice outside the province.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier said the National Food Authority, DTI and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are working in tandem in Panay in checking price movements and running after retailers and other food businessmen engaged in profiteering and other illicit trade practices.
"The government will not hesitate to invoke the provision of Republic Act 7581 on the filing of cases of profiteering against retailers who are profiteering from commodity prices and with their food products seized under summary proceedings," Yap said. (PIA) [top]
