Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Capiz) provincial director Ken Queenie Cuñada is encouraging consumer’s vigilance amidst intensified price monitoring activities especially that a 60-day automatic price control (APC) on basic necessities is being implemented provincewide.
“Business establishments must also adhere to the APC to avoid possible sanction,” she stressed.
The public may seek assistance from or file their complaints against erring establishments at the nearest Negosyo Center in their area or directly visit the DTI-Capiz Provincial Office at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Blvd., Pueblo de Panay, here.
DTI has monitored immediately the price and supply of basic necessities particularly the manufactured goods under its jurisdiction after the province was hit by typhoon Ursula last Dec. 25.
The agency is also mobilizing its Negosyo Center business counselors in the 16 towns and Roxas City for prompt facilitation and response at the ground level.
The list of basic necessities under APC was released, Jan. 4, by DTI and published in a local paper after the Capiz provincial government’s declaration of the entire province as under the State of Calamity thru Resolution No. 161 Series of 2019 (2019-2022).
Beforehand, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan B. Contreras has also directed an automatic prize freeze on basic necessities thru a Memorandum Order issued on Jan. 2 in furtherance of the declaration to ensure the availability of basic needs and prime commodities to consumers.
Section 6 of Republic Act 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act explicitly provides for the conditions to which basic necessities shall be placed under automatic price control, first of which is that the area is proclaimed or declared a disaster area or under state of calamity.
It further provides that the APC shall remain effective for the duration of the condition that brought it about, but not more than 60 days.PIA-Capiz
