• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod Councilor Celia Matea Flor is urging food kiosk vendors in MassKara Festival sites not to overcharge customers.
Flor, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets, said Oct. 6 that raising prices on popular items, like inasal and drinks, will ultimately turn buyers away and hurt local businesses.
“They won’t increase their rates because they’ll lose customers. Even if they do raise (the prices), I am appealing for reasonable rates so that our consumers and the MassKara attendees can enjoy,” she said.
Her reminder came after a customer posted on social media a receipt showing that a liter of beer costs P280.
Festival’s Food Park manager Christopher Malo said in a press conference last month that the organizers will not enforce a price monitoring on items sold in food kiosks, noting that kiosk owners pay significant rental fees for their stalls.
Flor said she will coordinate with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation to ensure that fair pricing is implemented across festival kiosks that operate for the duration of the MassKara, or until Oct. 18. | TMD
