TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) -- The Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) which Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado wants re-constituted in every town in Bohol would empower people to be part of the determination of local prices, especially when these are deemed inaccessible and unreasonable to most Boholanos.

This was the statement of Alvin Acosta, trade and industry development specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during the Kapihan sa PIA program here. 

“Kinahanglan, before sa kalamidad, duna na ‘tay gihimo nga mga steps, aron… dili man kita mangandoy nga maabtan ‘tag kalamidad, pero sa natural nga lihok sa atong environment, moabut man gyud na siya, andam na ta,” said Acosta. 

(We ought to have steps already done before the calamity arrives, even if we do not wish this to happen, the way nature moves, it will come and when it does, we are ready.) 

When calamity strikes, the Price Act mandates all implementing agencies to issue a price freeze or price ceilings for all products covered by the implementing agencies. 

“How else can we put up price ceilings if we do not have the pre-calamity monitored data?” asked Acosta as he pushed for the immediate reconstitution of the LPCC.

“Nindot siya nga atong i-activate tungod kay makatabang ni sila nato inig kuha na unya sa mga data kon ang atong mga LPCC sa kalungsuran, nakahimo na sa ilang price monitoring activities,” he added. 

(It would be good to activate this as the LPCC can help gather data when the LPCC starts to function and join price monitoring activities.) 

Acosta said the LPCCs are there for price monitoring and for crafting strategies to protect consumers.

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) from the local executive order creating LPCC specifies the local membership led by the governor or mayor, with the DTI serving as the vice chair based on the national law IRR.

Its members are the agencies implementing the price of their products, such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Energy, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and representatives of manufacturers, traders, agricultural sector, retailers sector representatives or their local counterparts in the towns, and the sectoral representatives based on the mayor’s appointment.

The LPCCs in the towns aim to harmonize the government programs of every implementing agency. 

As the DTI issues suggested retail prices (SRP), LPCCs are also expected to do the same considering inputs from representative members.

On the other hand, if the LPCC has monitored the local prices and established a trend, they can recommend suggested retail prices and price ceilings in their jurisdiction based on their in-depth study  and analysis on every price movement in their jurisdiction.

In cases where there is price manipulation and unreasonable increases, the LPCCs can take steps to stop the practice,  such as recommending to the implementing agencies who have jurisdiction over the overpriced product. 

RA 7581 or the Price Act mandates that the government ensure that basic and prime commodities are available to consumers at a reasonable price at all times. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)