NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has ordered the reorganization of the Provincial Local Price Coordinating Council (PLPCC) amid the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) woes.
The governor made the directive through the Executive Order (EO) No. 18 Series of 2020 he issued on Monday, March 23.
Lacson, in the order, said there’s a need to amend the Provincial Executive Order No. 10-020 Series of 2002 to make the PLPCC adjust in the changes of representatives from other agencies and sectoral groups.
Further, to address the concerns relating to price stability and supply of basic necessities and commodities, Lacson said.
“Under the Price Act, the state shall provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of goods especially during periods of calamity, emergency, widespread illegal price manipulation and other similar situations,” he added.
The council is composed of the governor as chairperson and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director as co-chair.
Heads or duly authorized representatives of agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, and National Economic and Development Authority are members.
The composition also includes representatives from the consumer, agricultural producer, trading and manufacturer’s sectors.
In terms of duties and powers, the PLPCC should coordinate and rationalize the programs that will stabilize the prices and supply of member agencies.
The council recommends to the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) or the implementing agencies suggested retail price (SRP) and price ceilings for certain basic necessities and prime commodities in their respective areas.
Other functions include conduct in-depth analysis on the causes of price fluctuation; recommend courses of action that will correct unwarranted price increase and supply shortages; monitor as often as maybe necessary, prices and supplies of basic and prime commodities; and report to the NPCC results of the price and supply monitoring.
During emergencies, the council should take measures like conduct immediately following the calamity or state of emergency price and supply monitoring activities of basic goods and prime commodities.
It should also cover specific items identified as basic necessities and prime commodities, though not part of the regular monitoring.
Other measures are increasing frequency of price and supply monitoring until the price and supply are stabilized; report items with price change and problems only; and submit reports to the secretariat of the NPCC for coordination.
DTI-Negros Occidental Officer-In-Charge Provincial Director Rachel Nufable, who met with Lacson on Monday, recalled that they sent a letter to the governor urging him to reorganize the council as provided under the Price Act.
Nufable stressed that reactivation of the LPCC, including those in different cities and municipalities in the province, is timely in the bid to further ensure the welfare of the consumers during this health crisis.
It can be recalled that a 60-day price freeze is currently taking effect following the declaration of state of public health emergency by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8.
“We are still waiting for the schedule so we can convene,” she added.