By Rey Anthony Chiu | 06:44 PM December 24, 2021
True to its mandate of implementing fair trade especially in times of calamities, the Department of Trade and Industry in bohol (DTI) slapped a total of 42 supermarkets and stores for violations of the price freeze order.
These establishments have been issued show cause orders to explain why they were overpricing.
If found guilty against the Fair Price Law, they can be fined P1,000,000.00, or imprisonment, or both, upon the discretion of the hearing court.
In its monitoring bulletin No. 1, dated December 24 at 9:AM, the government agency along with local Price Coodinating Councils went around 104 business establishments and found nearly half of them selling basic commodities at prices above the standard retail prices as nailed during the state of calamity.
“These have been found to be non-compliant with the issued price freeze order,” DTI said.
In fact, according to the same sources, the figures are still partial as data is being verified and transmitted to DTI Bohol, by local pricce monitoring task force teams.
The DTI has issued a price freeze order as of Dec 21 for regions IVB, VI, VII, X and XIII.
Section 6 or Republic Act 7581 as amended by RA 10623, prices of basic necessities in areas declared under state or emergency and calamity shall automatically be frozen in their prevailing prices.
The price freeze shall remain in effect until 60 days unless lifted by the President.
Frozen prices of basic necessities include canned sardines in tomato sauce, processed milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, powdered milk, coffee refill, bread, instant noodles, salt, detergent and laundry soap, purified water, distilled water, mineralized water, and candles.
The DTI is expected to publish the list of products under price freeze, in their facebook page and newspapers.
The agency has advised consumers to report any violations to mobile 09173005810, tel.no. (038) 501 8260, email r07.bohol@dti.gov.ph or message us at DTI Bohol Facebook Page. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol)