Price ceiling on basic goods set

CEBU, Philippines —  Amid panic-buying and the increase in demand of basic commodities, the Cebu Provincial Price Monitoring Council has passed a resolution providing price ceiling on essential goods to ensure that businesses do not take advantage of the pandemic.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to monitor the prices of canned goods. The Department of Agriculture (DA) will likewise look into the prices of rice, fish, fruits and vegetables.

In a press conference yesterday, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said there have been reports of drastic increases in the prices of basic goods such as rice in some areas of Cebu. Among these are Carcar City and the Municipality of Barili.

Although the reports were already acted upon by the local chiefs, Garcia said she requested the National Food Authority (NFA) to refuse an increase in the weekly request of their accredited retailers.

She is also set to issue an executive order for businesses to strictly follow the price ceilings pegged in the resolution of the price monitoring council.

The governor has enjoined all the town mayors and component cities to monitor the prices of basic goods in their localities, especially rice retailers.

Garcia said she will recommend to the NFA for the revocation of the license of erring retailers.

"If there is any report at all nga nag-overprice sila, then, ako na mismo ang mo-recommend for the revocation of their license sa NFA," she said.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has warned all businessmen not to take advantage of the health crisis. Dino said those who will be caught violating the price ceiling will be subjected to public shame.

"We will shame them publicly," Dino said, adding that this is on top of the administrative penalties like revocation of business permit.

"Amo jud na i-publish sa newspaper na ilang mga nawong ug ilang mga kompaniya. We have to let people know what they did and what they are doing," Dino said.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella also assured that the task force, headed by City Legal Officer Rey Gealon, is monitoring the prices in the city.

Labella directed the CLO to monitor, verify complaints, and conduct investigation against any establishment suspected of taking advantage of the crisis.

“Way luna ang mga mapahimuslanon sa isig-katawo dinhi sa syudad sa Sugbo,” the mayor said.

Gealon stressed that they will not hesitate to revoke the business permits of those who will violate the order of the mayor.

Labella, in an executive order issued Friday, mandated the DTI to ensure that the price freeze is implemented in this time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

He said those guilty of profiteering shall be reported for cancellation of business permit and padlocked for indefinite closure.

Enough food supply

Meanwhile, Garcia said the NFA has assured her that the Province has enough supplies of rice for three months. She added that this could be augmented anytime, stressing that the closure of the province’s ports do not cover the entry of cargo.

"Wa man nato gi-prohibit ang entry of supplies dire sa Cebu. Pwede man na ma-augmented anytime," she said.

Test kits

On the other hand, the Capitol is already looking at purchasing additional testing kits apart from those promised by the Department of Health (DOH).

‘We are also trying to source, ang province mismo kung dunay available as long as it is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved," she said.

According to Garcia, the funds for the purchase of the additional kits will be sourced from the province’s Calamity Funds.

She said that a company has already manifested interest but the Provincial Government is yet to determine if the kits are FDA approved by the source country and in the Philippines. As for the COVID-19 testing kits developed by scientists from University of the Philippines Manila, the DOH stated last March 11 that they would be delivered to the regional testing centers by March 16.

Garcia said she hopes that the national department would make do with their promise.

"They have identified Vincente Sotto as a regional testing center but as of now, kutob ra by name but not really an actual operation. We hope that they could already send,’’ she said.

The Cebu Provincial Board, in yesterday’s regular session, also passed on first, second and third reading, an ordinance adopting the provisions set by Provincial Executive Order 5-E, 5-F, 5-G, 5-H, 5-I, and 5-J Series of 2020 or the protocols on the preemptive measures imposed by the province amid the COVID-19 situation.

Anyone caught in violation of the provisions will have to face one year imprisonment or a penalty of P5,000.

The resolution, authored by 4th District Board Member Kerrie Shimura, chairperson of the Committee on Public Health and Services, was certified as urgent by the Office of the Governor prior to its approval.  FPL (FREEMAN)