PNP monitoring traders for hoarding, profiteering

MANILA, Philippines — Police are on the lookout for unscrupulous traders involved in hoarding of goods in areas placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Typhoon Egay.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has ordered police units in areas under a state of calamity to closely monitor activities of businessmen to prevent them from hoarding and committing profiteering and other unfair trade practices.

Acorda instructed police officers to assist in the government’s implementation of a price freeze on basic commodities in the affected areas.

“Our dedicated personnel are on the ground, ready to provide assistance and support to the affected communities,” he said in a statement.

Areas under a state of calamity are Abra, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Sanchez-Mira town in Cagayan Valley.

The PNP on Friday mobilized P2.32 million worth of relief packs for communities in areas ravaged by the typhoon.

Each package contains rice, canned goods, bottles of water, medicines and clothes.

At least 200 search and rescue personnel are on standby to assist in relief operations.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded establishments in areas under state of calamity due to Typhoon Egay to comply with the price freeze on basic necessities.

Under Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act – as amended by RA 10623 – prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen for 60 days from the declaration of a state of calamity in an area.

The price freeze shall be automatically terminated after 60 days unless lifted sooner by the President.

“We are currently in close coordination with our Regional and Provincial Offices within the affected areas to monitor the situation of our kababayans and to ensure the stability of prices and availability of supply of products under our jurisdiction,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said.

“We also activated our monitoring teams to check if establishments are complying with the price freeze. We at DTI will take immediate action against those who will be caught doing unfair and unjust sales practices,” he added.

Products under price freeze include canned fish, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt.

Shops open

Based on the latest situational report from the DTI Regional Operations Group on Friday, most business establishments are open and operational within the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The DTI added that the supply of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) would be good for one to three weeks, except for stores in Bangued, Abra which reported stocks good for four to six weeks.

In Region 1, supplies of BNPCs are also stable and sufficient, and buffer stocks can last up to one to two months, according to the DTI monitoring team.

Major supermarkets are likewise compliant with the prevailing suggested retail price for BNPCs.

Meanwhile, the monitoring team observed a slight increase in the prices of agricultural products in Region 2, specifically within Cagayan due to the effects of Egay.

Prices and supplies of BNPCs, on the other hand, remain stable, according to the monitoring team.

“However, it was reported that several business establishments within coastal areas were temporarily closed,” the DTI said.

The DTI monitoring team in Region 3 reported stable prices and supplies of BNPCs, with deliveries ongoing, ensuring sufficient stocks for the entire population.

It added that most supermarkets and public markets were operational and no damage had been reported.

Overall, the monitoring team also reported no hoarding, overpricing or panic buying recorded.

“The DTI is actively coordinating with the manufacturers of basic and prime goods. We also sought the assistance of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. to remind their member companies to ensure the availability and sufficiency of BNPCs in typhoon-affected areas,” DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.

For his part, DTI Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau director M. Marcus Valdez II said the DTI continuously coordinates with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council secretariat on the declarations of the state of calamity to ensure the stability of prices and availability of supply.

Based on the Price Act, business establishments found to have violated the price freeze face imprisonment for one to 10 years, or a fine ranging from P5,000 to P1,000,000, or both.