Members of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) inspected several grocery stores, the Burgos Public Market, and Central Market on Friday, Nov. 28, to ensure compliance with the Automatic Price Control (APC) following the declaration of a state of calamity in Bacolod City.
The LPCC is headed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with representatives from various Bacolod City government offices, a press released from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
DTI personnel who participated in the inspection included Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Kenneth Villarosa and Monitoring Officers Madel Rose Tapang and Glyza Gutang.
Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier signed the Automatic Price Control order together with DTI–Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lynna Joy Cardinal, activating a price freeze on basic necessities in major establishments across the city.
Engiemar Tupas, Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI–Negros Occidental, said daily monitoring is part of the measures to ensure that there are no price increases on basic commodities during the implementation of the APC.
“Based on the joint monitoring team’s inspection at KJ Fairmart and Grocermart along Hilado Street, no price increases were observed on basic necessities such as bottled water, sardines, noodles, coffee, and other products under DTI’s watch,” Tupas said.
He added that based on current inventory levels, the supply of basic goods in these grocery stores is sufficient and could last until the end of December.
The monitoring team likewise conducted inspections inside Burgos Public Market and Central Market as part of the citywide enforcement of the price freeze on basic commodities.
Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, areas declared under a state of calamity are automatically subject to a price freeze for up to sixty (60) days unless lifted earlier by the President.
DTI assured that joint monitoring and inspection activities will continue in other areas under its jurisdiction in Negros Occidental to ensure continued compliance with the price freeze.
The department also reminded business owners to strictly observe the price freeze and encouraged consumers to report any violations to the DTI–Negros Occidental Provincial Office at (034) 441-3644, the press release said.*