City strengthens price watch council
In an effort to protect the buying public and create an even friendlier business atmosphere throughout the city, the Iloilo City Price Coordinating Council (ICPCC) has been reconstituted.
As such, top government officials were named by Mayor Jerry Treñas in the council with the mayor as council chair himself.
The mayor in a statement noted how "especially during emergency and fortuitous situations," consumers fall to unscrupulous traders who increase prices unduly.
The council as primarily designed will coordinate and rationalize the city government's programs to stabilize prices supply and recommend action steps to correct unwarranted price increases and supply shortages. It is also the ICPCC's job to undertake emergency measures in times of crisis, calamity or state of emergency.
With Mayor Treñas at the helm of the council, designated vice chair is Trade and Industry Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena with Councilor Jose "Joe III" Espinosa as co-Vice Chairman.
Councilor Espinosa is currently the chair of the Iloilo City Council's Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry.
Members of the ICPCC are National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Arturo Valero, city Interior and Local Government director Helen Mestidio, city information officer Amante "Boy" Espejo Jr. and city legal officer Atty. Giovanni Miraflores.
Also named by the mayor in the council are market group heads Virgilio Tonogbanua of the Iloilo Terminal Market and Vincent Dela Cruz of the Iloilo Central Market, Valerie Maravilla of the Ilonggo Producers Association among others.