A lawmaker Monday called for the resignation of Secretary Peter Favila of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), citing his failure to check widespread abuses committed by some merchants.

In a statement, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said ordinary consumers will continue not to get the protection they so desperately deserve so long as Favila stays with the DTI.

Under Favila’s watch the DTI failed to protect the public against unjustified increases in the prices of basic commodities, he said.

“Pork, fish, vegetables, cooking oil, sugar, coffee, milk, bread and rice are now costly. What the DTI is saying is different from the real situation in public markets,” Marcos said.

The lawmaker said the DTI “might as well transfer their air-conditioned offices to public markets in Metro Manila so they may know how much the costs of basic commodities are right now.”

Marcos said that aside from unauthorized price adjustments, the DTI also failed to curb the proliferation of fake school supplies and defective cellular phones, electric fans, TVs, fluorescent lamps, gas stoves, washing machines and other home appliances.