The cities of Pasig and Valenzuela in Metro Manila have started implementing their respective ordinance preventing consumers from hoarding essential commodities amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The ordinances temporarily limit number of basic goods consumers can buy in times of public health emergencies.
The Valenzuela city government, headed by Mayor Rex Gatchalian, announced on Facebook last March 12 the approved Ordinance No. 669, or the “Anti-Hoarding and Anti-Panic Buying Ordinance,” along with separate lists of the type and quantity of products an individual consumer, registered retailers, sari-sari store owners and owners of other business establishments can purchase from commercial establishments, grocery stores, supermarkets, manufacturers or producers in town.
While classes are still suspended, the local government unit of Valenzuela temporarily assigned day care teachers, called “Sugod Grocery Team,” to various grocery stores in the city to do daily monitoring, and to remind shoppers to limit their purchases based on the ordinance.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, meanwhile, followed Valenzuela’s lead by enacting and implementing a similar ordinance, vowing to penalize violators–P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, P3,000 and eight hours of community service for the third offense.
READ: Pasig City OKs anti-hoarding, panic buying ordinance
In a tweet on Monday, March 16, Sotto shared a copy of a table indicating the maximum quantity of goods Pasigueño consumers may purchase. Violators of the city ordinance may be reported to 8-643-0000.
Anti-Panic Buying and Hoarding Ordinance of Pasig City.
(Sponsored by Coun. Raymundo and approved this morning)
Please see the table for maximum quantities you can purchase. Report violators to 8-643-0000.
Thank you to @valenzuelacity for providing an example to us for this. pic.twitter.com/Udek6wLjdN
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) March 16, 2020
On Facebook, Sotto acknowledged the groceries and convenience stores that have complied with the ordinance early morning on Thursday, March 19.
Tomic Apacible, a staff of the Pasig City government, also shared photos on Facebook showing full stocks of goods taken at a supermarket in Ayala Malls Feliz. Apacible told INQUIRER.net that the photos were sent to him by the branch manager of Metro Supermarket.
“Lots of stocks in groceries. No need to panic. Our mayor will never leave us behind,” Apacible said in his post.
Meanwhile, business owners and establishments in Pasig and Valenzuela that will not comply with the ordinance may face either closure or revocation of their business permits. /ra
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