DTI to check prices of LPG and construction materials
Posted on October 9th, 2009
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is now after dealers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and construction materials who are taking advantage on the aftermath of tropical storm Ondoy and overpricing their items.
The trade department will be coordinating with the Department Of Energy about the matter, while it says that it hasn’t received any complaints so far. Earlier, DTI has rounded up on dozens of supermarkets and shops who were found violating government-imposed price controls.
DTI Assistant Secretary Angel Pelayo said they already visited some hardware stores to check on the prices of construction materials and steel products and hasn’t seen any violations yet. “In fact, some of the construction materials are being sold below the standard retail price (SRP),†Pelayo said.
Originally, the price control only covers basic goods like rice, noodles and sardines. But the government decided to include construction materials in the list to help victims whose houses were damaged by the recent typhoon.
Meanwhile, Pelayo said that some manufacturers were complaining the prices imposed by the government were too low, but in spite of that, sellers were complying.
Jesus Arranza, Federation of Philippine Industries president said, “There may be some mistakes in the SRP for construction materials because the published price is below the selling price before the calamity.†He, however, assured that despite their misgivings, suppliers would comply with the government imposed SRP.
He pointed out that businessmen do not intend to take advantage of the situation and that all they wanted was a chance to sell their products at pre-calamity prices. “There is room for adjustment in the prices. I believe there must be some mistake,†he said.
According to Arranza, prices of construction materials vary depending on the demand in specific places. He also said that it is not realistic to expect businessmen to sell their products at a loss.
