Gov't asked to go after profiteers amid soaring fuel prices

(File photo)

MANILA – Partido Reporma senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday called on the government to protect consumers from the unreasonable hikes in the prices of basic goods amid soaring oil prices.

“Damay na talaga ang presyo ng pagkain gaya ng baboy, manok, at mga gulay dito sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa merkado. Bilang mga pangunahing pangangailangan, dapat aksyunan ng DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) ito dahil kawawa naman ang ating mga kababayan na umaaray na sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin (Prices of food like pork, chicken and vegetables are really affected by the continued surge in oil prices in the international market. As these are basic goods, the DTI should immediately look into these price increases as our countrymen are now adversely affected)," he said in a statement.

Eleazar said among the measures that should be implemented in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are the random inspections in grocery stores and public markets to see if these are compliant with the suggested retail price (SRP) set by the DTI and checks on weighing scales to ensure that customers are not shortchanged.

He said that the PNP and the LGUs have been helping the DTI in the enforcement of laws in connection with profiteering and other violations of the laws that the DTI is mandated to enforce.

Through the conduct of regular random inspections, Eleazar said traders will be discouraged from taking advantage of the consumers.

He also urged LGUs and the DTI to strengthen the system of filing complaints of the consumers from erring traders.

Last week, the DTI said it is looking into revising the latest SRP list to reflect the impacts of increasing oil prices on the costs of basic goods.

This came as some manufacturers sought a hike in the SRP of their products.

The DTI released the current SRP list last January 27, revising the price bulletin dated Aug. 29, 2021.

Eleazar, meanwhile, supported calls for a review of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), saying this brought adverse effects to the livelihood of local farmers.

The measure was brought up during the Pilipinas Debates of the Commission on Elections, with some of the candidates calling for its repeal.

“Kailangan reviewhin nang maigi itong batas na ito at amyendahan o i-repeal kung kinakailangan dahil hindi ito ang unang beses na nakarinig tayo ng negatibong epekto ng batas sa ating magsasaka (This law needs to be reviewed well to determine whether it needs to be amended or repealed as this not the first time we heard of its negative effects on our farmers)," Eleazar said.

He also said the Philippines' rice production should grow as it is an agricultural country.

The RTL removed the quantitative restrictions on rice imports and imposed a 35-percent tariff on rice imports from the country's Southeast Asian neighbors.

This means private traders can freely import rice provided they secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the tariff for shipments from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)

Source: Business Diary Philippines