Baguio City – The Department of the Interior and Local Government here is urging Cordillera local government units (LGUs) to reactivate their Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) in order to prevent uncontrolled price increases in basic commodities such as meat and its derivative products.
Araceli San Jose, Regional Director of DILG CAR, noted that the reactivation of LPCCs will monitor and prevent excessive and unreasonable price spikes in agricultural goods, processed goods, and medicines as the nation is still under state of calamity due to COVID-19.
“The LPCCs will also assist in the implementation of suggested retail prices (SRPs) of basic food commodities, issue warnings, and monitor, transport, movement, and distribution of commodities,” she explained.
The LPCCs are authorized by Republic Act No. 7581, also known as the Price Act, which protect consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities and prescribing measures to prevent excessive price increases during emergency situations and similar occasions.
“I strongly enjoin our local chief executives (LCEs) and members of the LPCCs to conduct regular inspections of public and private markets. LCEs may delegate barangay officials and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to monitor abnormal price increases in order to protect our kakailyans in these unprecedented times,” she said.
She also urged the LCEs to submit regular reports on Price Act violations to the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) secretariat and to provide stalls, kiosks, or spaces for the KADIWA ni ANI at KITA program of the Department of Agriculture and Diskwento Caravan of the Department of Trade and Industry in public markets, including flea markets, under its jurisdiction and control.
(Source: PMTG | DILG-CAR)
