PND
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies to prevent price gouging on commodities, including oil and other basic goods, amid the conflict in the Middle East.
In a Palace press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is implementing appropriate safeguards to ensure that no abuses are committed by private companies or businessmen selling products.
“Hindi pa po ‘yan napapanahon (It’s not the time yet),” Castro said when asked about the oil price increase due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Nakita po natin na binanggit din po mismo ni (Department of Migrant Workers) Secretary Hans Cacdac na inutusan na po ng ating Pangulo ang iba’t ibang ahensya para po hindi magkaroon ng pang-aabuso kasama po ang DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) dito (DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac himself mentioned that our President has instructed various agencies to prevent abuse, including the DTI here,” Castro added.
Castro said Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin was scheduled to meet with representatives of oil companies in the Philippines to discuss concerns surrounding oil prices.
She said the government continues to provide subsidies to various sectors to help mitigate the potential impact of increases in the prices of prime commodities in the country. (PND)
