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Are electric fans going up in price along with temperatures this summer?

They shouldn't be, according to Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman.

Roman on Thursday, April 27 asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor the prices of electric fans and other heat-reducing agents that are on high demand during the summer.

This, as some consumers cited a substantial increase in the prices of standard stand fans and wall fans. This has added to Filipinos' burden, the solon said.

"Ang electric fan dapat ang pinakamurang pamatid init na abot kaya kahit ng mga pamilyang Pinoy na salat sa yaman. Hindi dapat mabutas ang kanilang mga bulsa para lang makaramdam ng kaginhawaan ngayong panahon ng tag-init (The electric fan is supposed to be the cheapest anti-heat device that even poor Filipinos are able to afford. They shouldn't be burdened just to feel a bit of relief this summer)," said Roman.

The veteran lawmaker suggested that concerned agencies, including the DTI, should have a discussion with appliance makers about the reported price hikes on electric fans.

“Kung ‘di mababantayan ang presyo niyan, baka liparin na tayong lahat dahil hindi na makayang bilhin (If we can't mitigate those prices, then we might as well all go away since we can't afford it),” said the chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality.

Roman noted that the searing weather shouldn't be brushed aside, especially after some students in Occidental Mindoro collapsed due to the extreme heat, and a vendor in Isabela even died from it.

"Nakababahala na may mga kababayan tayong nanganganib ang buhay dahil dito. Kailangang tratuhin na ito bilang seryosong problema na dapat solusyunan ng mga ahensyang may sakop nito (It's concerning that some of our countrymen's lives are in danger because of this. We need to treat this as a serious problem that should be solved by the concerned agencies)," she said.