After imposing price caps on cooking gas and lubricants, the government is studying a proposal to include gasoline and diesel in the list of products under price control while the country is under a state of calamity.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila acknowledged there is a growing clamor from business and consumer groups to impose a price ceiling on oil products to prevent any illegal profiteering during the crisis.

“If that could ease their suffering, we will have to look into it,” Favila told reporters in the Palace Tuesday, when asked whether the trade department is open to the inclusion of gasoline and diesel in the price control list.

Favila said the government has included liquefied petroleum gas and lubricants in the price freeze that also covers food items, medicines and construction materials. Funeral services are likewise included in the aftermath of hundreds of deaths from storms Ondoy and Pepeng in Luzon.

Favila asserted that the expansion of the list of commercial products under price control is allowed by Republic Act No. 7581 during a state of calamity.

“We have covered LPG and lubricants as well as funeral services (in the price control list),” he added.

The trade department earlier asked the Department of Justice to review the legal basis of imposing price ceilings on basic goods to prevent traders from taking advantage of the calamity.

Favila said the trade department has already monitored several cases of price control violations.

He said President Arroyo has asked Philippine National Police to accompany DTI agents in monitoring the prices of basic commodities.

“When the situation warrants, the police will immediately make an arrest on sight,” he added.

Favila assured that the government will lift the price controls once the situation in the market has normalized.

At least four groceries have been reportedly overpricing when agents of the DTI and the National Bureau of Investigation conducted test buys in Quezon City, Makati and Muntinlupa.

NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services lawyer Ruel Lasala said the groceries were found selling noodles, coffee, milk and sardines above the price ceilings.

Government agents found that the price of Lucky Me noodles in a Quezon City grocery store was P6.60 or 10 centavos higher than the ceiling imposed while in a supermarket in Makati, the price of Blend 45 coffee (25g) was P16.35, above the P14.60 ceiling.

In a big supermarket chain in Muntinlupa, a can of Ligo sardines (155g) was being sold at P11.60 against the ceiling price of P11.25.

The price of Bear Brand milk (180g) in a drugstore-cum-grocery on Zabarte Road, also in Quezon City, was found beyond the cap.

NBI and DTI operatives continue to monitor flea markets in Bustillos and the Trabajo Market, Central Market, Quinta Market, Sampaloc Market and Blumentritt Market, all in Manila.

Lasala said he has tapped all units in the NBI Intelligence Services to conduct strict monitoring amid reports of overpricing in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

He said that while some businessmen have donated relief goods to those affected by typhoons, there are other unscrupulous traders who resort to overpricing.

“We have already a list of areas where the reported overpricing occurs,” said Lasala.