THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is expected to wield more power in ensuring consumer protection following the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Law
Ruth Castelo, DTI undersecretary, said RA 11469 fortifies DTI’s powers vested by the Consumer Act and Price Act on Illegal Acts of Price Manipulation.
In particular, Castelo said this enables DTI to tap law enforcement agencies like the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation in its enforcement activities.
Castelo said RA 11469 also provides additional penalty, under Sec. 4 (i) and other Illegal Acts of Price Manipulation where violators can face up to two months imprisonment and P10,000 to P1 million in fines.
The DTI is also poised to reactive its local price coordinating councils (LPCCs) to strengthen price monitoring and enforcement in the local government level.
In a press briefing, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Bayanihan to Heal as One Law instructs the DTI to allow for the reactivation of LPCCs to ensure sufficient and reasonably-priced basic and prime commodities.
RA 7581 or the Price Act mandates the creation of LPCCs which are tasked to coordinate and rationalize the programs to stabilize prices and supply of member agencies in the respective provinces, municipalities and cities.
LPCCs can recommend to the National Price Coordinating Council or to the implementing agencies suggested retail prices (SRP) and/or the price ceilings for certain basic necessities and/or prime commodities in their respective areas.
LPCCs are tasked to conduct in-depth analysis on causes for price fluctuations and recommend action steps to correct unwarranted price increases and supply
Nograles, who also heads the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the DTI is also tasked to ensure the full operations of those engaged in the manufacturing of medical supplies, devices and equipment including supporting inputs like packaging and distribution to address needs of these manufacturers.
Nograles said the law also tasks DTI to enjoin concerned export enterprises that manufacture medicines, medical supplies and equipment to supply 80 percent of their daily production for local and domestic use.
RA 11469 allows President Duterte to exercise the power to adopt temporary emergency measures to respond to the crisis brought by the coronavirus diseases 2019.
Specifically, Duterte will continue to enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, and cartels, monopolies or other combinations in restraint of trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution and movement of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicine and medical supplies, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, machinery equipment and spare parts required in agriculture, industry and other essential services, and other articles of prime necessity, whether imported or locally produced or manufactured.
Meanwhile, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said movement of cargoes will normalize this week after initial difficulties during the first two or three days of implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
“The situations have eased up at checkpoints and we have been hearing more positive feedback on the movement of cargoes,” said Lopez.
This comes after the release of DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-08 last March 20, 2020, which guarantees the unhampered movement of all cargoes and transit of personnel of business establishments allowed to operate during the quarantine period.
Lopez also assured there is enough inventory of food, alcohol, and disinfectants in supermarkets.
“There is no need to panic buy. We have already talked with the manufacturers and cleared up issues. The movement of cargoes has been addressed so there shouldn’t be any problem with production and shortage,” said Lopez.