A consumer group, Bol-anon Bantay Presyo, has succeeded in preventing plans to increase the prices of commodities. It was able to enter into an agreement with other stakeholders to follow the price ceilings as released back on Dec. 23, 2021.
This was the result of the full council and cluster meetings of the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) on Jan. 20 and 21, 2022 at the Modala Resort and at the Capitol, respectively.
Gov. Arthur Yap called the full council meeting on Jan. 20, 2022 at a resort in Panglao town to discuss the increasing prices of commodities which happened following the typhoon.
The PPCC had a cluster meeting a day after on Jan. 21, 2022 at the Capitol, this time presided over by Provincial Legal Officer Julius Delgado.
In a radio interview, the chairman of Bol-anon Bantay Presyo, Cylwin Bomediano said that even if there was a price freeze order issued on Dec. 23, 2021, he bared that there was a plan to increase prices of commodities by the sellers/retailers taking into consideration the cost of power coming from generators and other expenses.
Bomediano said his group strongly opposed the plan for any price increase. He added that another hike in the prices of commodities is unjust and would only make it harder for Boholanos to cope with the situation where the province is under a state of calamity.
“Dilli na gayud makatarunganon. Taas pang daan [ang presyo ug] dugangan pa,” Bomediano said in a radio interview over dyTR Balita FM 91.1 FM’s Open Forum program hosted by Chandymar Araneta-Batoy on Jan. 21, 2022.
Bomediano used the vegetable called amplaya or paliya as example during the interview. He said that the price of the said vegetable before the typhoon is P80 per kilo. There is a plan among the sellers/retailers to increase the price of ampalaya to P120 to P130 per kilo.
“Ato ning gebabagan kay dili na makaya gayud [sa mga kunsumidor],” Bomediano told Araneta-Batoy during the interview.
Bomediano told the retailers, vendors, suppliers and those people who procure goods from producers, that he conducted a research on the prevailing prices of vegetables in Bukidnon.
He said he asked about the actual cost of commodities at the producer’s/farmer’s level.
The group Bol-anon Bantay Presyo plans to directly purchase commodities such as vegetables and spices among others coming from Bukidnon.
He added that the group will be the one to distribute the commodities to partner retailers to be sold to consumers at an affordable price.
The prices of the commodities that were procured by Bol-anon Bantay Presyo will be monitored for compliance with the price ceiling.
The partner retailers who will be caught not compliant with the price ceiling will be barred from getting additional supply coming from the group, Bomediano explained.
Bomediano, in a separate telephone interview, said the group expects the arrival of vegetables and spices on Jan. 25, 2022 that will be distributed to retailers.
At least two 20-ton wing vans are expected to arrive in Bohol this coming Tuesday bringing the vegetable and spices from Bukidnon.
Bomediano explained the effort to keep the prices of commodities down is a work in progress.
Bomediano said that the PPCC initially tackled the prices of agricultural commodities. In the succeeding meetings, the PPCC will tackle the prices of other commodities such as grocery items, fish, and construction materials.
The chairman of Bol-anon Bantay Presyo said he looks forward to discussing how to bring fish prices in the province down.
It is common knowledge that the prices of fish in Bohol are expensive.
The PPCC is expected to call for a fish summit to determine the reasons and look for possible answers to solve the expensive fish prices.
The summit is expected to conveme within 2 weeks, Bomediano said.
RESULT
The end result of the Friday meeting is that agricultural commodity
prices will follow the price ceiling issued as of Dec. 23, 2021.
Bomediano said the price ceiling as of Dec. 23, 2021 will be enforced starting this week. Copies of the suggested retail price as of Dec. 23, 2021 will be posted near markets and public places.
A copy of the suggested retail price is also published on page 3 of this newspaper.
In a post, Delgado confirmed that the price ceiling issued on Dec. 23, 2021 based on a letter by Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Joel Elumba will be imposed.
In a telephone interview, Delgado said a composite monitoring and enforcement team will be inspecting retail shops and markets among others to check on their compliance with the price freeze order.
Under the law, Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, there is an automatic price freeze on certain commodities upon the declaration of a state of calamity.
Bohol is under a state of calamity as declared by Yap and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
The law penalizes violators of the price freeze of fines no more P 1 million and not less than P1,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 10 years or both upon the discretion of the court.
For illegal price manipulation, the penalty range from 5 years to 15 years and a fine of not more than P2 million and not less than P5,000.
BOL-ANON BANTAY PRESYO GETS FORMED
Bol-anon Bantay Presyo, a private sector consumer group, has hatched a plan to bring cheaper commodities or goods to the market, giving huge benefit to Boholano consumers.
The consumer price watch group was launched on Jan. 15, 2022.
Bomediano said that with the help of trader Jesryl Abarquez, the group will purchase commodities directly from farmers in Bukidnon.
The goods will then be shipped to Bohol via wing vans to be sold in some localities here, Bomediano said.
The idea is to skip the trading layers which make the prices of commodities such as vegetables and fruits, expensive.
Abarquez explained how the trading layers are adding cost to commodities making them more expensive by the time they reach the end consumers.
He said that that a cabbage bought directly from a farmer sells P35 a kilo and could cost more once it goes through the trading layers.
Meanwhile, the group’s vice chairperson Judge Jennifer Marcos said Yap is pleased that a private sector consumer group has been formed to help monitor prices of commodities.
She explained that the group was formed as an offshoot of the increase in commodity prices following the devastation brought by typhoon Odette.
The group has been recognized as the consumers organization that sits as a member of the PPCC.
Likewise, Marcos clarified that the governor has nothing to do with the sharp increase in commodity prices in Bohol.
The judge called on the government for stricter implementation of laws to protect consumers from high prices of commodities especially during a state of calamity.
