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| DTI-Cagayan Provincial Director Bernardino Mabborang leads supply and price monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities on September 14, 2018 in Tuguegarao City. | |
With just a few hours before super typhoon Ompong made its landfall in Baggao, and continued its onslaught in the entire province of Cagayan, the Department of Trade and Industry Cagayan Provincial Office – Consumer Protection Division led by Provincial Director Bernardino G. Mabborang, conducted a supply and price monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities in Tuguegarao City on September 14, 2018.
The monitoring was made in tandem with the City Government of Tuguegarao, under the directive of Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano. Ms. Annie Ocampo of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 02 also joined the team.
The DTI Cagayan team, composed of DC Felicidad S. Baylon, Mr. Lourdito B. Antonio, Ms. Zenaida P. Baricaua and Mr. Mar Alan, and the Tuguegarao City Treasurer’s Office headed by Assistant City Treasurer Lorie Balisi, inspected groceries and supermarkets in Tuguegarao City where retailers are reminded to follow Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) and to not take advantage of the situation. Prices of basic necessities and prime commodities were checked during the monitoring, and are within the SRPs.
It was also established during the monitoring that inventory level of basic necessities and prime commodities, including construction materials, specifically cement, steel bars and GI sheets could last for 2-3 weeks consumption. ABS-CBN covered the monitoring activity. The Philippine National Police provided security to the members of the team. The team met with Mayor Soriano to provide him updates after the monitoring.
A follow-up monitoring was conducted on September 17, 2018 in Tuguegarao City, a day after the typhoon left the Philippine Area of Responsibility to determine compliance of retailers to SRPs, the sufficiency of supply of basic necessities and prime commodities, and to assess the overall situation after the calamity. The team, which was headed by Mr. Lourdito B. Antonio of DTI-Cagayan found no violations on compliance to SRPs.
Meanwhile, Negosyo Center Business Counselors (NCBCs) conducted monitoring of business establishments in their respective municipalities before and after the onslaught of super typhoon Ompong in the province, warning business owners from overpricing, profiteering and hoarding of basic necessities and prime commodities, medicines, lumber and petroleum products.♦
Date of release: 28 September 2018
