In response to the incessant clamor of the public to find out why the prices of basic commodities in the province are high and in order to look for solutions to lower them, the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol (SP) with Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos in the lead, approved on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, a resolution enjoining all local government units (LGU) in the province to create their respective City/Municipal Price Monitoring Coordinating Council (PMCC).
The chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Industry, Board Member Jone Jade Bautista pushed for the approval of the said resolution as part of her committee’s recommendation.
Earlier, in a previous session of the SP, Second district Board Member Vierna Mae Boniel-Maglasang made a manifestation stating that prices in the province are higher compared to other provinces in the region.
The recommendation was the result of the joint committee meeting of the Committee on Trade & Industry and the Committee on Agriculture, which was attended by representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry Bohol, Bohol Investment Promotion Center, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center and the Provincial Legal Office.
According to a report, the prices of meat and fish products in the province are the highest in Central Visayas, which are against the Price Act of the Philippines that specifically protects the consumers against undue price increase of prime commodities, especially during calamities.
The law further provides protection by stabilizing the prices of basic commodities.
The same law mandates the local government units (LGU) to create price monitoring initiatives.
Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos underscored that the Provincial Government of Bohol has not been negligent in its duty of monitoring the prices of commodities in the province.
He clarified that the Local Chief Executives (LCE) are unable to create laws designed to control the prices of basic commodities.
The SP resolution directs the LGUs to create their respective PMCC that will monitor the prices in their areas of jurisdictions in accordance with the correct prices issued by the concerned agency.
Relampagos explained that the prices of goods are governed by the law of supply and demand.