Higher gas prices won’t hike food prices

Q. Will the increase in fuel prices mean an increase in the prices of food and medicines?

A. No, it won’t.

During the April 10 meeting of the National Price Coordinating Council, manufacturers and retailers of basic goods assured the DTI that the recent (and expected) fuel price hikes will not affect or will have a minimal effect on the prices of basic goods. This is because transport cost make up a small portion of the total production and distribution costs of manufacturers, dealers and retailers.

The Department of Health reported the prices of medicine have also been stable because of the steady peso-dollar rate.

The NPCC is mandated by the Price Act or Republic Act 7394 to coordinate and monitor price stabilization programs of government as well as to come up with strategies to maintain the price stability of basic goods. The prevailing prices of basic goods, which are the prices most often found in public markets and supermarkets that are monitored by the DTI, have remain stable for the past year.

Among the slight increase monitored this month were the prices of Maggi instant noodles, which increased from P4.25 for a 320 mil. pack to P4.50, and Master sardines, which went up from P8 to P8.50. The price of Purefood corned beef went down from P27.50 to P27.

Under the Price Act and the Consumer Act, traders and retailers who increase their prices unreasonably will be fined between P5,000 and P2 million and will face imprisonment of up to 15 years.

Q. My three-year-old electric fan emits no air even when I press button 3. Its blades run slow. Is the fan defective?

A. No, it’s not. When an electric fan’s blades rotate slower than they are expected to, it means the unit needs cleaning and tuning up, either of its motor or its rotor (where the blades are connected).

After some time, a fan’s motor and rotor accumulate dust, hair, thread and other foreign objects that cause the blades to turn more slowly. Frequent use also wears down the motor wiring.

Schedule regular visits to the service center or to any qualified technician for motor rewinding and cleaning. Don’t try to clean it yourself. Better safe than sorry.

If and when you do have to buy a new one, remember to look for the Philippine Standard or PS mark for locally made units and the International Commodity Clearance or ICC mark for those that are imported. Either of these marks means the electric fan has passed the inspection of the Bureau of Product Standards of the DTI.

Q. I bought an aerospace bed through TV shopping. When I tried to inflate it, I saw a hole on the bed. Can I return it and get my money back?

A. You sure can. Although TV home shopping does not require a consumer to be physically present in a store to buy a product, it follows the same purchasing process as a regular store.

Based on Chapter 5, Article 97 of the Consumer Act, a consumer can return a defective product and have it replaced. If the consumer decides not to buy the product, he/she can ask for a refund.

(You may send your consumer complaints and comments to the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, DTI Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. DTI’s consumer hotlines are 896-5740 or 890-4932 and www.e-reklamo.net.ph)