DTI asks consumers to demand for receipts
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena urged the consumers to demand receipts when buying basic commodities especially purified water to be used in prosecuting erring business establishments in the city.
Cadena said the receipt is an important proof for the trade department to impose penalties and sanctions against business entities that are taking advantage of the calamity. If the establishment will not issue receipt, it constitutes another violation under Republic Act 7851 or the Price Act.
The complainants must present their receipts as proof of their transaction. Business establishments especially water refill stations should not take advantage of the situation and increase their prices for profit. They should even extend help to the typhoon victims, said Cadena.
Republic Act No. 7851 aims to ensure the availability of prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times. It also aims to provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of said goods, especially during periods of calamity, emergency, widespread illegal price manipulation and other similar situations.
Under the Act, there will be two types of price control that can be imposed by the government, the automatic price control and mandated price control.
There is an automatic price control when prices of basic necessities are automatically placed under price control whenever the President declares an area under a state of calamity, disaster, emergency, rebellion, war, martial law, or when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus has been suspended. This shall remain effective for the duration of the condition, but not more than 60 days.
While, in the mandated price control, the Price Coordinating Council (PPC) or the implementing agency may recommend the imposition of mandated price ceilings on any or all of the products that fall under the list of basic necessities and prime commodities when there is impendency/threat, existence or effects of a calamity or emergency or any event that causes artificial or unreasonable increase in prices; or whenever the prevailing prices have risen to unreasonable levels. This shall require the approval of the President.
The department of trade is currently conducting rounds in the different supermarkets, malls and grocery stores to check on the prices of commodities from rice, noodles, sardines, cooking oil, laundry soap and other basic commodities.
As to date, DTI has yet to make any releases on commercial establishments violating the Price Act after Iloilo City was devastated by Typhoon Frank.