Gov’t to file raps vs market owners selling overpriced goods — DILG
MANILA, Philippines — The government will file charges against market owners selling overpriced essential goods amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday.
“The government will not think twice of charging you with criminal cases congruent to the offense you committed,” DILG Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. said in a statement.
Florece issued the statement as he called on local government units (LGUs) outside Metro Manila to launch a crackdown on profiteers in public and private markets.
With this, Florece Jr. ordered LGUs outside the metropolis to activate their Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), which is tasked to ensure that prices of commodities are reasonable.
Under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2018-128, LPCC will inspect public and private markets and deploy barangay officials to monitor price hikes in markets.
“LPCC will be the eyes of the government in ensuring na walang panlalamang at pandaraya sa presyo ng mga bilihin. Mahirap na po ang pagsubok na ating pinagdadaanan bilang isang bansa at ng ating mga kababayan bunga ng COVID-19, huwag na po nating dagdagan,” Florece said in a statement.
(LPCC will ensure that there is no excessive pricing in commodities. Covid-19 has already given us problems. Let us not add to that.)
Meanwhile, Florece ordered 17 Metro Manila LGUs to follow the 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken under Executive order No. 124, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Umaaray na ang ating mga kababayan sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin partikular ang baboy at manok and we have to act on their complaints. We, therefore, direct our Metro Manila Mayors to comply with EO 124 signed by the President and ensure that prices of pork and chicken are regulated in their localities,” said Florece.
(Our countrymen are already complaining about the high price of goods, especially pork and chicken and we have to act on their complaints.)
“Many have lost their jobs and are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; hence, we owe it to them to make their lives easier by ensuring that the cost of basic commodities does not burden them any further,” he added.
The EO on the price ceiling does not cover LGUs outside Metro Manila, Florece also noted.
The EO set the price for a kilogram of kasim and pigue at P270, per kilogram for liempo is at P300, and per kilogram for dressed chicken is set at P160.
READ: Duterte sets price cap on pork, chicken
The price cap takes effect on Feb. 8, according to an earlier statement from the Department of Agriculture.
READ: DA: Price ceiling on pork, chicken products to start on Feb. 8
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