The Department of the Interior and Local Government is urging local government officials in the Cordillera to monitor the prices of basic goods and prime commodities through their Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) as the region continues to welcome a massive influx of both domestic and foreign tourists.
“I strongly enjoin our local chief executives and members of the LPCCs to conduct regular inspections of public and private markets. Local chief executives may enjoin barangay officials and non-government organizations to monitor excessive price increases in order to protect both domestic and foreign tourists and more importantly their constituents,” said DILG-CAR Director Araceli San Jose.
She said LPCCs will assist in the implementation of suggested retail prices of basic food commodities, issue warnings, and monitor transport movement and distribution of commodities.
The LPCCs will also monitor and prevent excessive and unreasonable price spikes in agricultural goods, processed goods, and medicines.
LPCCs are authorized by Republic Act 758 or the Price Act to 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.
The LPCCs may hold a public consultation or engage in dialogues with DILG representatives, producers, manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and consumers to arrive at a reasonable price ceiling.
LPCCs should also continue to monitor the prices of all basic necessities and prime commodities and enforce SRPs even during normal times to ensure that businesses do not take advantage of customers, and tourists, San Jose added. – Press release