Photo from Paranaque PIO
The city government of Parañaque implemented a 60-day price freeze on necessities following the declaration of a state of calamity on July 27 due to the effects of heavy flooding.
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the price control covers rice, corn, bread, fresh and processed meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, fresh vegetables, sugar, cooking oil, salt, and laundry soap, as well as prime commodities like construction materials and school supplies.
Olivarez said the team of the Consumers Welfare Office, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), conducted monitoring and check prices of supplies at the 52 grocery stores around the city.
He said the team started its monitoring on Monday, July 28, at Puregold Multinational in Barangay Sto. Nino, Big C, SM Bicutan and Robinsons Easymart in Barangay Don Bosco, SM Bicutan, Robinsons Southpark, Puregold Aguirre, South Grocer at Barangay BF Homes, Waltermart, Alfamart, Robinsons in Barangay Merville, Alfamart, and SM Hypermarket in Barangay Sun Valley 1.
The mayor also said the grocery stores that were visited by the team on Tuesday, July 29, were Puregold Jr in Phase 3; Alfamart at El Grande, One Stop Mart, Alfamart at Elizalde, and Robinson’s Easymart, all located in Barangay BF Homes.
Olivarez said the city government's move was based the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581), which mandates the automatic imposition of price control in areas declared under a state of calamity to protect consumers from price gouging during and after disasters.
He said consumers can call for complaints through the CWO number - 88294079 CWO and 72151165 – DTI.