The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) are pushing for compliance with the price tag requirement for consumer products in public markets in Negros Occidental.
PAFC Resolution 03-2025 seeks to institutionalize the mandatory price tagging of agricultural and fishery commodities in all public markets within Negros Occidental.
To promote the initiative, both institutions organized last Friday an online awareness session attended by 75 representatives from various concerned sectors.
The session discussed provisions of relevant laws such as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the Price Tag Law, and pertinent DTI department administrative orders, all of which require the proper display of prices on retail goods to uphold consumer rights and promote market transparency.
Participants included local government unit (LGU) market supervisors, representatives of market vendors associations, local price coordinating councils, city and local and regional agricultural and fishery councils, as well as personnel from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.
In a statement on Tuesday, DTI-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lynna Joy Cardinal said they will monitor compliance with price tagging in stores selling basic and prime commodities and, at the same time, advocate for transparency that builds trust among producers, vendors, and consumers.
“By clearly displaying prices, we empower consumers, promote fair competition, and contribute to a more efficient and profitable marketplace,” she said.
OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola, co-chairperson of PAFC, said they are committed to helping disseminate the information through people’s organizations and local government units (LGUs).
“We will integrate this initiative into our regular programs,” Genzola said, underscoring the importance of collaboration in achieving effective implementation.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson called for the institutionalization and enforcement of the price tag requirement for agricultural and fishery commodities in the province.*PNA