ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Tuesday called on Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III to reorganize and reconvene the Iloilo City Local Price Monitoring Council (ICLPCC).
The SP members called for the reactivation of the ICLPCC after they approved the committee report of Councilor Candice Magdalene Tupas that there was increase in the prices of basic commodities, specifically fish and dried fish, last Feb. 8.
Tupas, chairman of the SP committee on trade, commerce and industry, conducted a fact-finding investigation in aid of legislation due to reports on price hikes.
Among reasons cited for the jacked-up prices were the higher demand compared with produced supply, billing at the fish port, presence of middlemen and weather conditions, among others.
In a previous interview, she said the shortage in supply could be due to the sprouting of many food establishments in the city. She said that there are middlemen who bid, particularly on agriculture products.
Meantime, the ICLPCC was reorganized on November 17, 2010 through an Executive Order. It was chaired by the city mayor while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) sit as vice-chairpersons.
Its members included representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority and Departments of Agriculture, of Health, of Environment and Natural Resources, of Transportation and of Justice.
It also included representatives from the consumer, agricultural producer, trading, manufacturing and retail sectors and from the labor sector.
Tupas added that if there are inconsistencies in prices, then the ICLPCC can write a letter and recommend to the DA, DTI for sanctions. (PNA)
