BACOLOD City — The city government here has sounded the alarm over counterfeit bills circulating in the city following reports that fruit vendors at the Libertad Market were duped by a customer using fake money.
The warning comes as MassKara Festival activities draw thousands of people into markets and commercial areas, increasing the volume of cash transactions across the city.
On October 2, a fruit vendor couple reported to City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo. They claimed that on October 1 several Tagalog-speaking customers bought some items using large-denomination bills to get genuine money back in change.
Personnel from the City Treasurer’s Office later examined the banknotes and confirmed they were counterfeit, according to Mayo.
He added that the couple was assisted in filing a police report, and the city government will coordinate with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-Bacolod branch for further investigation.
Mayo noted the incident was not isolated, as other vendors around Libertad Market reported similar experiences.
In response, the city directed market administrators to immediately warn and educate vendors about counterfeit money and the methods used by individuals attempting to pass fake bills.
Mayor Greg Gasataya urged vendors and consumers to exercise greater caution as MassKara activities intensify and the holiday shopping season approaches.
The city government advised vendors to carefully inspect every banknote before accepting payment or giving change, particularly P500 and P1,000 bills.
Vendors were reminded to use the BSP’s “Feel, Look, Tilt” method in checking banknotes: “feel” the raised printing and other tactile features; “look” for the watermark and security thread on paper bills, or the transparent window on polymer notes; and “tilt” the banknote to check its color-changing and other security features.
Mayo cautioned vendors against hurried transactions, particularly when customers make small purchases but use large bills and ask for substantial change.
City officials stressed that suspected counterfeit bills should never be passed on to others. Instead, they should be brought to a bank or proper authorities for examination and reported immediately to the police.
The city government urged vendors, businesses, and the public to remain vigilant, warning that the heavy influx of visitors and commercial activity during MassKara creates opportunities for counterfeit-money schemes./PN
