Las Piñas mayor seeks to protect consumers

Las Pinas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar has appealed anew to suppliers and retailers to keep prices of basic commodities at its present ceiling and not take advantage of the impending price increase of petroleum products.

Aguilar also enjoined vendors and retailers to avoid any hoarding of commodities that may create artificial shortage of products, which may eventually be used as an excuse for imposing higher prices.

The call was reiterated by the mayor to cushion the effect of basic commodity costs following another round of price increases in petroleum products as a result of crude price adjustments in the world market.

"The consuming public must be protected at all costs. We must perform our duty effectively to protect the consumers," Aguilar said.

In a directive to market masters and inspectors, Aguilar said public and private markets, commercial areas and the 10 talipapas in the city must observe the prescribed price limit on all basic food products and that vendors use the correct weighing scales.

The monitoring covers prices of food supplies like rice, fish, poultry and meat products, vegetables, and processed food like milk, sugar, coffee, juices and instant food.

Aguilar pointed out that necessary measures must be immediately undertaken to cushion the effect of what she calls a "frustrating" escalating of prime food supplies in the market as a result of the rising oil and crude prices.

Meanwhile, she reported that the 40,000-strong members of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina has been mobilized and has been teaching food processing and preservation, as well as other income-generating projects like haircutting, embroidery and candle making, as another step to assist in their livelihood.

At the same time, the mayor encouraged housewives to be productive by engaging in simple but practical endeavors without necessarily abandoning their household chores.