Sara orders revocation of permits vs hoarders

BUSINESS establishments that will be found hoarding basic commodities and overpricing their goods will face cancellation of their permits, Mayor Sara Duterte warned Monday.

Duterte said she has ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that the prize freeze memorandum of the Department of Health (DOH), orders on price tag, suggested retail price and other regulations on all goods and commodities must be strictly implemented.

“Business permits of stores caught selling overpriced items and hoarding food and other supplies shall be canceled and their establishment padlocked,” she added.

The mayor said consumers who have complaints must bring these to the attention of the DTI and that the Philippine National Police can also help them in preparing their complaints.

Last January 31, the Department of Health issued a memorandum for the prize freeze of essential medicines due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019nCoV) health event.

“Due to the on-going global concern on the spread of Novel Coronavirus (2019- nCoV, the

DOH hereby orders a price freeze on Essential Emergency Medicines (Annex 1) in the entire country. Unless otherwise lifted by the President, it shall remain in effect for the duration of the situation,” the memorandum reads.

The memorandum also states that it is a mandate of the DOH to monitor and regulate drug prices as well to “ensure that consumers are adequately protected against profiteering, hoarding, cartels and the like that compromise their access to pharmaceutical products.”