Benguet reorganizes council vs high prices

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The newly reorganized price council in the province is now in place to  ensure basic necessities and prime commodities are available with impact of COVID-19.

Through Executive Order 2020-024 issued by Gov. Melchor Diclas, the Benguet Provincial Price Coordinating Council (BPPCC) is chaired by the governor and co-chaired by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Freda Gawisan with 14 members from the provincial government, line government agencies and the private sector. 

The council will help in price stabilization and curb the scrupulous operations of establishments against hoarding and profiteering especially during periods of calamity, emergency and other similar situations.  It will inspect establishments, adopt programs for the stabilization of prices and supplies, recommend to the national council suggested retail price or price ceilings, and analyze causes of price fluctuations and recommend actions.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Proclamation 922 declaring a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19,  the DTI imposed a nationwide price freeze on basic necessities on March 12. 

Under the  Republic Act 7581 or   Price Act, whenever there is a declaration of a state of emergency, calamity, or other similar conditions prices of basic necessities shall be frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days or until sooner lifted by the President.

Basic necessities include rice; corn; bread; fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meal; fresh eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; root crops; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health;

Prime commodities include fresh fruits; flour; dried processed and canned pork; beef and poultry meat; dairy products not falling under basic necessities; noodles; onions; garlic; vinegar; patis; soy sauce; toilet soap; fertilizer; pesticides; herbicides; poultry; swine and cattle feeds; veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle; paper; school supplies; nipa shingles; sawali; cement; clinker; GI sheets; hollow blocks; plywood; plyboard; construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs; steel wire; and all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the Department of Health.

If price is beyond what is prescribed in the price freeze, DTI issues a letter of instruction for the establishment to respond and explain but must be backed up by evidence. If excessive and not reasonable, the business establishment will be penalized administratively following due process, she explained.

Gawisan said so far, there is no violation recorded in the province in the current price freeze. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)