By PR | 11:47 AM February 10, 2024
The provincial local price coordinating council (LPCC) has started reactivating municipal council counterparts to strengthen price monitoring, especially on fish prices.
This after Gov. Aris Aumentado released memorandum circular no. 1 on Jan. 31, tapping town mayors to reconstitute their respective Municipal Price Coordinating Councils (MPCCs).
In his memo, Aumentado underscored the need to manage unreasonable and excessive price increases for basic necessities and prime commodities, with emphasis on fish products.
On Monday, Feb. 5, LPCC members convened at the Capitol to discuss areas concerning price monitoring and initiatives to reactivate MPCCs.
In an interview, Vierna Teresa Ligan, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bohol OIC provincial director, expressed support for the provincial government’s move.
“Ang LPCC makatabang kay gamay ra baya ‘mi (sa DTI). Ang staff sa mga lungsod ma-deputize to monitor (on behalf sa agency member sa LPCC). Pwede na ang ilang local counterpart ang makatabang ug maka-maximize at least naa ‘tay information nga ready (on price monitoring),” Ligan said.
LPCC members include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Energy, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office, and the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office.
On Feb. 6 and 7, the LPCC started to convene with the local government units (LGUs) of Jagna and Maribojoc to facilitate the reorganization of their monitoring council.
“Muadto usab (ang LPCC) sa mga LGUs nga interesado (gyud) ug naay intent nga magpatabang og pa-reorganize sa ilang MPCC,” Ligan added.
During the meeting, LPCC tackled other concerns including reviewing the composition of council members, marketing the surplus of hog and pork products in Bohol, intensifying rice and vegetable production, and securing food sufficiency amidst the possible threat of El Niño affecting Bohol.
“Based sa monitoring reports sa agencies, compliant ra ‘ta sa prices ug naa ra ‘tay supply sa agricultural products,” Ligan revealed.
She also suggested that the council create a unified online file system where agency members can input their data, monitor, and identify trends or significant product changes affecting each good in the market.
“Para dili na ‘ta magsalig sa kada-agency and each agency will do monitoring pod, so mag-come up ta og online file, bahala’g dili website.”
The information on this website will be useful for future activities.
“At least makahibaw ug makatubag ‘mi (taga-DTI sa rason nganong nitaas ang presyo),” Ligan expounded.
The council strongly agreed and approved the idea of a common monitoring dashboard for the council.
Meanwhile, Aumentado is set to gather town mayors on Feb. 15 to discuss and expound on his newly signed memorandum about reactivating LGU’s MPCCs. (PiMO/JSS)
