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BAGUIO CITY – The city government of Baguio City is intensifying efforts to monitor fuel and commodity prices to prevent overpricing as global oil costs continue to rise due to tensions in the Middle East. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the Local Price Coordinating Council has been directed to closely assess how the ongoing conflict could affect local markets and the prices of basic goods. During a meeting on Monday, Magalong instructed council members to ensure that proper measures are in place to protect consumers from unfair price increases. “We will go after these opportunists, issue notices of violation, and if they fail to explain their pricing properly, we will cancel their business permits,” the mayor warned. Members of the council reviewed the city’s current price monitoring system and discussed ways to strengthen efforts against overpricing and other unfair trade practices. Among the measures being implemented are tighter coordination among government offices and stakeholders to closely track the prices of fuel and basic commodities and quickly respond to any unusual price spikes. Magalong also said that information campaigns will be intensified so the public can stay informed about the authorized prices of essential goods. The city’s Public Information Office will regularly post official price lists on its social media pages from agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture to help guide consumers. Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology plans to establish a unified consumer reporting platform where residents can report cases of overpricing or unfair trade practices. Reports will then be forwarded to the appropriate agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry for basic commodities and construction materials, the Department of Agriculture for agricultural products, and the Department of Health for medicines. Magalong added that the city government is also coordinating with business groups to ensure compliance with fair pricing policies. The mayor is expected to meet with fuel dealers, retailers, and business organizations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen cooperation in preventing abusive trade practices and maintaining stable commodity prices. On Tuesday morning, members of the city’s price monitoring council were deployed to conduct joint inspections of fuel stations and markets to check the supply and prices of fuel and basic goods.

NPO News Team | Philippines News Agency – PR