• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod is requesting the City Treasury to release this month’s full salary of employees and officials on or before April 15.
“The early release of the salary for April will give our employees and officials the opportunity to procure essential commodities at a lower price” before the expected increase in the prices of selected basic and prime commodities, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said in his resolution approved by the SP April 8.
The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said that prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) will increase starting on April 17, following its meeting with manufacturers and retailers.
Member-supermarkets under the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association committed to maintain current prices of BNPCs until April 16, the DTI had said in an advisory, adding this is to ensure stability of prices amid tensions in the Middle East.
“This price stability effort is supported by BNPC manufacturers and retailers, who have pledged to absorb current logistics and inventory pressures,” it added.
The DTI said that while Malacañang declared a state of national energy emergency, this does not come with an automatic price freeze clause, thus the strengthened nationwide monitoring to ensure stability of prices and supply.
Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the Local Price Monitoring Council has been reactivated since November in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino, and any increase in the prices of BNPCs should be within the limit allowed by the DTI.
The agency has jurisdiction over 726 variants of essential products, and 196 of these SKUs, or stock keeping units, have suggested retail prices. These products include canned sardines, canned meat, coffee, processed milk, instant noodles, condiments, laundry soap, toilet soap, candles, salt, battery, bottled water, and bread. | CGC
