Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon visited a market on Oct. 9 to check the prices of basic commodities. 

Biazon went to a market in Barangay Poblacion to know the prevailing prices of rice, meat, vegetables and other commodities. 

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon at the Poblacion market on Oct. 9 (Screenshots from Mayor Biazon's video on Facebook)

He said a common feedback of stall owners inside the market is the competition from sellers outside the market, which has a negative impact on their income. 

“Ang common feedback ng mga nagtitinda ay ang kompetensya mula sa mga nagtitinda sa labas—yung mga nasa bangketa at nasa iba pang private properties. Hindi na kasi sila napapasok ng mga mamimili; may advantage kasi yung mga nasa labas (The common feedback from sellers is the competition from sellers outside–those who are located on the sidewalk and private properties. Consumers no longer go inside (the market); those who sell outside have the advantage),” said Biazon during his Facebook live video of his market visit. 

The mayor also noted that there are vacant stalls in the market, which could be due to sellers losing out to competitors outside the establishment. 

Biazon said he will look into the matter of illegal vendors around the market. 

“Nagkakaroon kasi ng negative impact sa market mismo. Titingnan natin ang mga umiiral na batas natin kung may magagamit tayo para tugisin ang mga illegal vendor at wala sa tamang pwesto (It has a negative impact to the market directly. We will study the existing laws if we have something to use to go after illegal vendors and those who are not in the proper places),” said Biazon. 

He said if there is a need to come up with a new regulation or ordinance, the city government will do it for the sake of fair practice in business. 

But ultimately, he said, what he is after is that the prices of goods will not skyrocket.