The Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) chaired by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has passed a resolution seeking a price freeze on prime commodities in Negros Occidental, too, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, December 28.
The resolution will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for approval.
Negros Occidental was placed under a State of Calamity following the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette, which automatically led to a price freeze on basic necessities.
Under Republic Act 7581 included under basic necessities are fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and other poultry meat, rice, corn, bread, 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.
Not included in the price freeze are prime commodities, Diaz said.
RA 7581 identifies prime commodities as dried, processed and canned pork, fresh fruits, flour, 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, plyboards, construction nails, batteries, electrical supplies, light bulbs, steel wire, and all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the DOH.
Lacson, PPCC chairman, convened the council on Monday, December 27, in order to pass a resolution recommending to the President the imposition of a price ceiling on prime commodities such as GI sheets, construction materials, solar panels, generator sets, and water sold at refilling stations to ensure that supply is adequate, affordable and accessible to all Negrenses throughout the duration of the State of Calamity, Diaz said.
The recommendation is to only allow a 10 percent maximum increase in prices based on the average price of the commodity during the last three months, Diaz said.
The Provincial Veterinary Office has already submitted its report, and they are just waiting for the recommendations of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist for inclusion in the resolution to be signed by the governor, he added.
PPCC price monitoring results show that the current retail prices of basic necessities and prime commodities have dramatically increased, causing an additional burden on the typhoon victims.
The imposition of a price ceiling provides effective and sufficient protection to Negrense consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and predatory pricing of goods during this State of Calamity, the resolution said.
“The governor has appealed to the business sector to be humane during this time of calamity and to put public service and concern for others at the forefront other than profit,” Diaz said.
He stressed the need not to take advantage of the misery of others, Diaz added.*