The Department of Trade and Industry maintains prices of basic and prime commodities in Region X (Northern Mindanao) are stable and have not gone up significantly, contrary to some published reports (not on this paper).
“Per confirmation with provincial offices there were no movements in the movements in the prices of basic and prime commodities monitored by DTI,” said Atty. Fel Lester G. Brillantes, spokesperson and legal counsel for the Dept. of Trade and Industry Region 10 Office (DTI-X). “We have not received any formal charges from DTI provincial offices for violation of The Price Act.
Unloading sacks of flour in a local bakery. Flour is one of the commodities subject to price control by the local price coordinating council under The Price Act of 1992.
Brillantes said the DTI Lanao del Norte provincial office reported that per its local price coordinating council monitoring conducted last Thursday (July 3) for agricultural products, NFA rice was down from P32 to P27 per kilo, thus regular milled rice was also down from P37-39/kg. to P34-35/kg., but well milled and premium rice remained at P40-49/kg. Sugar and oil were stable. Garlic was at P250-260/kg.
No price movement for basic commodities in Cagayan de Oro
In its latest Weekly Price Monitoring Report dated July 4, 2014, DTI Misamis Oriental provincial office reported there were no significant changes in the price of basic and prime commodities monitored n Cagayan de Oro city over the past three months.
The report said that “This week’s price ranges for both basic and prime commodities reflect some minor changes in the prevailing prices for several items monitored compared to the previous week. This is per Manufacturers/Suppliers instructions to the different Supermarket/Groceries/Wetmarkets being monitored weekly.” “Newly approved SRPs (Suggested Retail Prices) also reflects price change. Supply of different products monitored remain stable and readily available to consumers.”
To ensure that meat and poultry products sold at Cogon public market are safe and clean for human consumption, the City Veterinary Office, headed by City Veterinarian Dr. Perla Asis, conducted a routine inspection on July 1, 2014 at the city's biggest public market. (City Information Office)
In fact, the report listed only the following products with slight price increases: Milkmaid 300 ml, Alaska 370 ml, Bear Brand with Iron 150 gms, Nido Fortified Full Cream Milk 160 gms, Birch Tree Full Cream Milk 150 gms and PF Chinese LM. Commodities monitored include processed milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, evaporada and powder filled milk; coffee refill; detergent/laundry soap, salt (iodized refined/rock salt), load bread, flour, processed canned pork and beef, beef loaf, instant noodles, vinegar, patis, soy sauce, toilet soap and brown/white sugar.
Dried fish for sale
Products reported with price decreases for the period included Ligo, Mega Star canned sardines and Safeguard (white) 90 gms.
However, Brillantes clarified that it is the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS) and National Food Authority (NFA) and not DTI which is mandated to monitor the prices of agricultural products and rice, respectively.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno has convened the City Price Coordinating Council (CdO-CPCCP) which is scheduled to have its first meeting on Wednesday, 09 July 2014 at the DTI Misamis Oriental provincial office conference room.
As specified by Executive Order No. 089-2014, the CdO-CPCC will have the following functions:
1) Coordinate the production, distribution, and marketing programs of various agencies under the care of the City Government for the purpose of stabilizing price of prime and basic commodities at reasonable levels;
2) Investigate and recommend actions and steps to correct unwarranted price increases and supply shortages, including suspected price manipulation and control activities in the city.
3) Gather pieces of information from its members or other government agencies and offices, as it may deem necessary, for the purpose of assessing the supply, distribution, and price situation of any basic necessity or prime commodity.
4) Conduct in-depth analysis of causes of price fluctuations.
5) Publicize from time to time developments in productivity, supply, distribution and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities; and
6) Whenever automatic price control of basic necessities is imposed under Section 6 of Republic Act 7581 (Price Act of 1992), it shall cause the immediate dissemination of their prevailing prices or the price ceilings imposed in lieu thereof through means that will result in a wide dissemination.
The CdO-CPCC will be chaired by Mayor Moreno as chair, with Atty. Jose Edgardo Y. Uy as co-chair and DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Ma. Eliza A. Pabillore as vice chair.
Its members include the presidents of the Cagayan de Oro Groceries Association; Konsumanteng Kagay-anon, Inc.; Cagayan de Oro Press Club, Transport Federation of Cagayan de Oro; chair of the City Council Committee on Trade and Industry and the Heads of the Xavier University KKP-SIO, Social Action Center, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; Agricultural Productivity Office; City Economic Enterprise Department; City Legal Office and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office Director.
The CdO-CPCC was created by virtue of Section 1, Rule IV, Creation of the Local Price Coordinating Council, its Powers and Functions, of the Rules and Regulations Implementing RA 7581 (IRR) otherwise known as the “Price Act of 1992.”
Memorandum Order No. 2004-75 of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) strongly urges the Local Government Units to activate their respective Price Coordinating Councils to monitor, convene and formulate policies and strategies to keep prices of basic consumer goods at reasonable levels.