Valenzuela passes anti-panic buying ordinance

MANILA, Philippines — The Valenzuela City council on Thursday passed an ordinance imposing measures against hoarding and panic buying amid the COVID-19 scare.

City Ordinance 669, sponsored by Councilors Rovin Feliciano and Kim Galang-Tiangco, imposes “restrictions on the buying capacity of individuals and retail establishments on some basic and prime commodities.”

The measure, which was introduced the same day it was passed, is in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 922, which enjoins all national and local government units to mobilize necessary resources to curtail and eliminate the spread of the coronavirus.

Individual consumers would only be allowed to buy six cans of sardines, three cans each of other canned goods, one kilo or 12 sachets of powdered milk, one box or can of milk formula, 12 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee, three packs of bread, 12 pouches of instant noodles, one dozen eggs, two liters of cooking oil, two kilos of sugar and 50 kilos of rice each day.

The same ordinance limits buyers to a maximum of two 500-milliliter bottles of alcohol, six rolls of toilet paper, three rolls of kitchen towels, six bars of bath soap, three 100-ml bottles of hand sanitizer, two 500-ml bottles of liquid hand soap, a gallon of disinfectant solutions, 10 face masks and a box of 100s or bottle of multivitamins or Vitamin C.

Registered retailers are limited to 24 cans of sardines, 12 cans each of other canned goods, five kilos and five types of powdered milk, five boxes or cans of milk formula, 10 200-gram coffee refill packs, 10 types of 3-in-1 coffee, 10 packs of bread, 48 pouches of instant noodles, five dozen eggs, five liters of cooking oil, 10 kilos of sugar and 150 kilos or three cavans of rice per day.

They are also limited to 15 300-ml bottles or 10 500-ml bottles of alcohol, 10 100-ml bottles of hand sanitizer, 48 rolls of toilet paper, 10 rolls of kitchen towels, 24 bars of various bath soaps, 10 500-ml bottles of liquid hand soap, three gallons of disinfectant solution, 100 face masks and five boxes with 500 pieces or five bottles of multivitamins or Vitamin C per day.

The ordinance requires retailers acquiring goods to present their business permit before they can avail of the higher quantity limits.

The list of the items must be posted within the premises of the establishment and those found violating the provisions of the ordinance will face cancellation of their business permit.

Under the law, Mayor Rex Gatchalian is authorized to create a special task force for the implementation and monitoring of the ordinance, and to issue additional implementing rules and regulations.

Gatchalian said the measure is temporary and shall be subject to constant review, depending on the developments on the effect of the virus in the coming days.