CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Trade and Industry- Pampanga Branch warned traders against overpricing of goods and commodities deemed essential during calamities.
The warning stemmed from the complaints of the consumers who alleged that some store-owners are selling goods higher than the suggested retail price (SRP) imposed by DTI.
Nathaniel Samson, senior DTI specialist said that additional manpower were provided to monitor and visit supermarkets and public markets including hardwares in the province to check the accuracy of the complaints.
“We have deployed additional personnel to check the prices goods and commodities in the supermarkets and public markets. As of now, none of these reports were proven. But we will not stop monitoring the situation,” he said.
Samson stressed that sales monitoring is a year-round activity of DTI but they are intensifying it this season to ensure that unscrupulous entrepreneurs would not be able to take advantage of the calamities to increase prices of products beyond the mandated price ceiling.
“We assure our consumers that this rainy season, we will be more aggressive and stringent in watching our traders for possible overpricing activity especially with basic goods like sugar, coffee, canned-goods, noodles”, he said.
He reminded traders and store-owners that they cannot increase prices of goods without the approval of DTI and any price hike should be in accordance with Price Act of 1992 and Consumer Act of the Philippines. Violators will be fined and more infraction will result to the revocation of their business permits, he added. (Jenna Lumbang, PIO Pampanga)
