Public urged to help guard vs. unreasonable price increases

2006/02/16

Public urged to help guard vs. unreasonable price increases

by T. Villavert

Iloilo City (16 February) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Iloilo) urged the public to remain steadfast and help the government guard against unreasonable price increases in the light of the l2% rate increase in the implementation of the new Expanded Value Added Tax.

DTI-Iloilo provincial director Diosdado Cadena, Jr. aired this concern during the PIA-CATV program where he emphasized that the DTI with the other concerned government agencies will conduct regular price monitoring of basic and prime commodities.

Cadena noted that the prices of products under their jurisdiction remained stable, and if there were some that may be observed to have price increases these are only slight increases for the long overdue adjustments or product positioning.

Some other products have even lowered their prices when compared to their last week’s prices, Cadena said.

“That is why it is best that the consumers must take time shopping, because there are many brands to pick and several shopping malls to choose from,” Cadena said.

For the public’s guide, Cadena cited the following government agencies and their areas of concern as mandated by Republic Act No. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act: Department of Trade and Industry- consumer product quality and safety; deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; weights and measures; consumer products and services warranties; price tag; labeling and packaging; liability for products and services; service and repair shops; advertising and sales promotion; Department of Agriculture- agricultural products; Department of Education- consumer education and information; Department of Health- food, drugs, cosmetics and devices, and hazardous substances; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas- consumer credit transactions extended by banks and other financial intermediaries; and the Securities and Exchange Commission- credit facilities extended to consumers by financing companies.

What can a consumer do if he/she has a complaint? The Consumer Act cites that the concerned person must identify the problem, gather documentation regarding his/her complaint, and go back to where you made the purchase.

If the concerned person is not satisfied with the response, then he/she should write a formal letter of complaint to the government agency having jurisdiction over the subject of the complaint.

“Consumer vigilance and awareness also count in our price monitoring activity, and a well informed and vigilant consumer is the best protected consumer,” Cadena concluded. (PIA)


Diosdado Cadena Jr.