DTI: No overpricing noted in aftermath
DESPITE the flood, which hit Pangasinan and Metro Manila, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has not reported rise in prices of prime and basic commodities in the local market.
Peter Mangabat, DTI provincial officer, said just like other parts of Luzon, Pangasinan is under the state of calamity and therefore certain items are under price control.
“When the President declares a place under the state of calamity, there is automatic price control. But when a mayor or a governor declares their respective places under state of calamity, this is done only to justify the use of calamity fund,” he said.
Mangabat met with local retailers early this week and asked them to observe the price ceiling of specific commodities prescribed by the government, Pangasinan being under the stated of calamity.
He admitted, however, that a problem confronts it because a 10 millimeter steel bar, whose prevailing price before the placing of Pangasinan under the state of calamity was P115, and the price ceiling is set at only P109.92 per piece.
He suspected an error in the computation by his main office.
Among the products under price control being monitored by DTI are manufactured products, like sardines, milk, coffee, construction materials, like cement, electrical supplies, fuse, ballast, nails, galvanized iron sheets and others.
Being monitored by the Department of Agriculture are agricultural products, like rice, corn, bread, meat, eggs, and vegetables while the Department of Health monitors the essential drugs
Mangabat believes that there is no felt shortage in supply for any of the listed items in Pangasinan.
He said the stock inventory and restocking of the bigger malls, like the CSI, is every three weeks while smaller groceries work on two-week period.-LM
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