MMC to inspect other markets in NCR vs SRP violators - Mayor Francis

San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora vowed to inspect other markets in the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure that all sellers and vendors are following the suggested retail price (SRP) issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). “Iikot kami ni Chairman (Romando) Artes sa iba’t ibang market para mag-inspect as the MMC Chairman. So far, all the mayors are supportive that all markets will follow the SRP (Chairman Artes and I will visit other markets in my capacity as the MMC Chairman. So far, all the mayors are supportive that all markets will follow the SRP),” Zamora said. Zamora made the statement following the MMC's inspection at the Agora Market in San Juan City on Feb. 21. The inspection was spearheaded by Zamora, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, DTI Asec. Ann Claire Cabochan, and representatives from the Bantay Presyo of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Aside from checking the SRPs, the DTI also inspected the weighing scales being used by the vendors and were pleased to know that the scales carry the precise weight. "Ginawa natin ito dahil ang gusto natin ay siguraduhin na tama ang presyo ng bilihin dito sapagkat kawawa ang mga mamamayan natin kung mataas ang presyo ng bilihin kaysa sa SRP (We are doing this because we want to ensure that the price of commodities being sold are correct and also to protect the consumers from those who are selling their produce well above the SRP)," he added. During their inspection at the Agora Market, two vendors were found violating the SRP bulletin of the DTI. Zamora said vendors found selling overpriced commodities will be penalized under City Ordinance 32, Series of 2008 or the Ordinance Creating the Local Price Control Coordinating Council. First-time violators will be fined P2,000, 2nd-time offenders will be fined P3,000, 3rd-time offenders will be fined P5,000 and their permits will be revoked. The San Juan City Police, the Business Permit and License Office (BPLO), and the city's Task Force Disiplina are tasked to implement the said ordinance. The Agora Market is the only public market operating in the city of San Juan and is privately operated. Zamora said that the city government has a Market Master assigned to make sure that all city ordinances are being implemented in the market. The most common violations in the markets include calibrated weighing scales, no price tags, and tenants who sublease their stores to other vendors.