Ms. Ronadale Zapata
83321148/8334507
Karuhatan
market prices relatively stable
VP NOLI STRONGLY URGES
VALENZUELA LGU TO STRICTLY ENFORCE PRICE TAG LAW
25 October 2005
VICE President Noli
'Kabayan' De Castro yesterday urged the Valenzuela local government to
strictly enforce the Price Tag Law so as to protect consumers from
opportunistic traders and businessmen in the locality.
De Castro made the call
during his surprise market visit to a private market in Karuhatan,
Valenzuela yesterday morning to monitor prices of basic goods and
commodities prior to the implementation of the EVAT law next month.
While conducting the
inspection, De Castro found out that many of the stall owners in the
market have no price lists. The Price Tag Law requires such price
lists to be posted in every market stalls to properly guide the buying
public, De Castro said.
The Vice President requested representatives from the Valenzuela local
government to take note of the minor violations and be more vigilant in
enforcing laws that protect consumers.
Despite this, De Castro said he is happy with the result of his
surprise visit owing to the relatively stable prices of goods at the
Karuhatan market. He also noted that all weighing scales in the market
are accurate.
De Castro said prices of vegetables like eggplant and string beans as well
as fish,
like Tilapia and Bangus, and canned goods remained stable if not
low because of abundant
supply. Only the price of tomatoes increased since they are still
sourced from Mindanao, he said.
Together with Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, De Castro
conducted the market inspection to find out if there are unscrupulous
traders who are taking advantage of the imminent implementation of the
EVAT law.
“This is our way of preventing some naughty businessmen who might jack
up their prices in view of the upcoming EVAT implementation,” he said. Though majority
of the products being sold at the market are exempted from EVAT, De
Castro said the government is not giving any chance to erring
businessmen to abuse unsuspecting consumers.
At one instance during the market tour, the DTI caught one stall-owner that
sells milk products higher than the prescribed price. DTI representatives discovered that
the milk products were being sold P4 to P5 higher than the usual price.
When asked to explain, the trader said that she's charging higher
because of high rentals in the market. De Castro advised the trader to
comply with the law; otherwise, the DTI
shall impose the necessary sanctions that may include closure of her
store.
Ref no. VPMEDIA 05-157