Mt Prov council to check goods pricing

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province—Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen  recently signed an  executive order  reorganizing the provincial price coordinating council to monitor  prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return of investment.  

“It is  the concern of the province to provide protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels of goods especially during occurrence of calamity, emergency and similar situations,” Mayaen  said.

The PPCC is chaired by the provincial governor with the Department of Trade and Industry as vice chairman.

Members of the council include John K. Likigan of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist; Dr. Penelope A. Domogo of the Provincial Health Office; Manuel L. Pogeyed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and representatives from the consumer, agricultural producers, trading, and retailers sectors.

The council shall coordinate and rationalize programs of member agencies to stabilize price and supply of commodities in the province in accordance with their assigned jurisdiction as stated in the implementing rules and regulations; recommend to the National Price Coordinating Council or to the implementing agencies suggested retail prices and the price ceilings for certain basic necessities or prime commodities in the province.

It shall also conduct analysis or cause of price fluctuation and recommend actions/steps to correct unwanted price increase and supply shortages.

In times of crisis or calamities, the council shall meet immediately during and after the calamity to monitor supplies and prices in the province.

The creation of the Provincial Price Coordinating Council is pursuant to Republic Act 7581, otherwise known as the “Price Act “ which provides protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities and by prescribing measures against undue price increase during emergency situations.