Gov’t keeps an eye on commodity prices

Hulagway via Flickr / Wikipedia photo

MANILA — Malacanang assured the consumers that the trade department will monitor the prices of basic goods because some traders may jack up prices as the Christmas season approaches.

The Department of Trade and Industry has released suggested retail prices for consumer goods but some quarters have expressed concerns on the how the government could monitor prices.

“Very active naman po ang consumer protection ng ating DTI at ng kanilang mga monitoring teams,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday to ease the public’s concerns regarding the prices of goods.

“In fact, halos araw-araw po nagpapadala sila ng report doon sa kanilang mga nagagawa at sini-share din nila sa publiko, at nagpapaikot na rin ng ‘Diskwento Caravan,'” she told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The DTI has started its ‘Diskwento Caravan’ to give consumers options on where to buy cheaper basic commodities, she said.

With regards to security concerns of mall employees after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority proposed a new opening and closing schedule, Valte said the MMDA will coordinate with the police.

“I’m quite sure that MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino has already coordinated with the PNP (Philippine National Police) regarding the new opening and closing hours of shopping malls and that security arrangements will be made accordingly,” she said.

Mall operators have agreed to extend their operating hours to help ease traffic congestion anticipated to occur this coming Christmas season.

Tolentino said almost all shopping mall operators along EDSA agreed to an “Open Late, Close Late” policy, meaning their operating hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.