Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) — About 30 vendors in a public market in Quezon City were caught selling fruits, vegetables, and meat at higher rates despite the price freeze due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said stalls at Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City should be selling these products for the same suggested retail price two weeks ago, as the March 8 declaration of a public health emergency triggered a price freeze on basic goods.
“Under the Price Act, basic necessities ang agricultural products like pork, chicken, gulay, fish, so dapat hindi rin siya gumalaw [prices should not have moved] right now because we’re on a price freeze,” Castelo told CNN Philippines.
The price freeze is in place until mid-May unless President Rodrigo Duterte decides to lift the declaration earlier than scheduled.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Agriculture Secretary William Dar visited a public market Thursday morning and found vendors selling fresh produce at higher prices. Castelo said these shop owners were served notices of violation, demanding them to explain why their prices were much higher.
Castelo said the vendors blamed traders and suppliers, but some could not present invoices to prove how much they got the goods for.
If their explanations are found invalid, Castelo warned that steep penalties await violators. Apart from the penalties under the Price Act — which ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱2 million as well as five to 15 years in jail — the recently-signed Bayanihan to Heal as One Act would add a penalty of at least ₱10,000 to ₱1 million, and a possible two-month sentence.
“If they continue doing this na ganyang kataas ang presyo, sinabi na ni Sec. Lopez, PNP na ang pupunta sa kanila to confiscate all the goods kasi profiteering na (iyan). It’s an illegal act of price manipulation,” Castelo added.
[Translation: If they keep doing this and sell prices that high, Sec. Lopez has said that it will be the police who will go to them and confiscate all the goods for profiteering. It’s an illegal act of price manipulation.]
On the other hand, prices in supermarkets and grocery stores have not moved, said Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association President Steven Cua. He added that some stores had to provide temporary housing for workers, but assured that such costs will not be passed on to consumers.
