Parañaque City gov't orders strict enforcement of price freeze on basic goods
By Jean Fernando
The Parañaque City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) is enforcing the strict implementation of the city's ordinance on price freeze.
According to the city's BPLO chief, lawyer Lanie Malaya, she has dispatched a team to conduct monitoring in partnership with the Consumer Welfare Office (CWO) headed by Millan Alcaraz to ensure that the price freeze was being complied with after the government placed the country under enhanced community quarantine.
Malaya said Mayor Edwin Olivarez issued an order to check on the supermarkets, public markets, talipapa (market stands), and other business establishments located in the city to ensure compliance with the price freeze on all basic commodities as required by the Department of Trade and Industry.
She also said Olivarez ordered that they take the proper action against erring establishments.
The BPLO chief said that based on the ordinance passed and approved by the city council penalizing profiteering during times of calamities, disasters, and national or local emergencies, the automatic price control must strictly be implemented.
Malaya said the ordinance also provides that in case of violation and upon recommendation of the CWO, the BPLO will cancel the establishment's business permit and black-list them from further engaging in business.
She added that the BPLO will then furnish the barangay a copy of the cancellation of the business permit.