PRICE CONTROL. Basic goods sold in the supermarket of a major shopping mall in Bacolod City. The Department of Trade and Industry-Negros Occidental has issued an automatic price control reference for retail establishments in this city this week. (PNA Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY – An automatic price control (APC) reference for retail establishments here has been released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this week.
The APC reference is based on the monitoring data of the DTI-Negros Occidental reviewed by the DTI-6 (Western Visayas) regional office in Iloilo City, and the price control is effective within 60 days.
“This is now our basis to determine whether there are movements in the prices of basic necessities under the APC,” said Romel Amihan, head of Consumer Protection Unit of DTI-Negros Occidental, on Thursday.
Price freeze among basic goods are taking effect following the declaration of state of public health emergency by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8 due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.
The APC reference for Bacolod City shows the prevailing prices of 155 grams of canned sardines range from PHP14.40 to PHP18.20, depending on the brand.
Prices of condensed milk are pegged at PHP33 to PHP70; condensada, PHP27.25 to PHP54.50; evaporated milk, PHP20 to PHP56.50; evaporada, PHP21 to PHP26.25; and powdered milk, PHP46.25 to PHP174.50, also depending on the brand and net weight.
Coffee should be sold at PHP16.75 to PHP74 and PHP17.50 to PHP77.55 for 3-in-1 and refill, respectively, while detergent or laundry soap, PHP17.50 to PHP21.
For bread, a loaf costs PHP37 to PHP64, depending on the brand and net weight.
Different brands of 50 to 55 grams of chicken flavored instant noodles should be sold at PHP6.60 to P7.60 while beef flavored, PHP6.50 to PHP7.60.
Amihan said the establishments should follow the “specific price of the products for specific brand and net weight.”
Effective prices may be lower, but not higher than those listed in the APC reference, he added.
Prices vary, not only depending on the brand and net weight, but also on where these products are sold -- either grocery store, supermarket or wet market.
Amihan said the DTI-Negros Occidental will soon start sending the APC reference to the local government units and retailers in key cities like Cadiz, Sagay, San Carlos and Kabankalan.
The setting of APC reference for other localities in the province is still on process, he added.
“We continue to warn establishments to comply and urge consumers to report erring retail stores,” Amihan said.
Violators of Republic Act 7581 or Price Act, particular sellers who commit any act of illegal price manipulation or violation of the Price Act, shall be penalized of imprisonment of up to 10 years and fined for up to PHP2 million. (PNA)
