Price coordinating council investigates violators on Price Freeze

The Bohol Provincial Price Coordinating Council (BPPCC) has been investigating the reported
increase on prices of some basic commodities amid the implementation of price freeze while Bohol is
under in the implementation of the “Community Quarantine.”
The BPPCC headed by Governor Art C. Yap received the results of price monitoring in selected
public markets in the municipalities and in the city for the period March 26 to April 1, 2020 conducted by
the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), one of the members of the BPPCC showed that retail
prices of both well milled and regular milled rice increased by P2.00-P7.00 per kilo; corn grits of which
the retail prices still increased from P1.00-P2.00; ginger with a remarkable increase between P70.00-
P100.00; calamansi increased by P10.00 to P52.00; lakatan banana a remarkable increase ranges from
P30.00-P50.00; cooking oil, an increase ranges from P3.00 to P5.00/ pack in wet markets in the city and
in the municipalities; and dried fish, retail of potpot increase by P50-100 starting March 25, 2020;
The governor said that daily price monitoring has been closely conducted to ensure that the
implementation of the price freeze of all basic commodities would not be violated by the erring owners of
establishments who would take advantage in the situation while the consumers are bracing on the impact
in the implementation of the “Community Quarantine” of Bohol.
Earlier, Boholano DTI Assistant Secretary Aster Caberte said those who will violate the price freeze
will face penalties of at least P1 million, imprisonment or both.
SUGGESTED PRICE CEILINGS
Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field
Office (DA-RFO) 7 last March 23, 2020 respectfully endorsed to Gov. Yap the Suggested Price Ceilings
(SPC) of the following agricultural and fishery commodities for the province of Bohol.
Agricultural/Fishery Commodity: Price Ceiling Range (in PhP/kilogram) low – high: Cereals – Well
Milled Rice – 34.00-43.00, Regular Milled Rice – P36.00-38.00, Corn grits (white) – 26.00-35.00;
Pork: Belly – 225.00-240.00, Ham – 210.00-240.00, Lean Pork – 225-230.00;
Beef: Brisket – 190.00-220.00, Sirloin Steak – 300.00-450.00;
Chicken: Whole Chicken – 150.00-160.00;
Eggs (Chicken): Small – 5.00-7.50, Medium – 5.25-8.00, Large – 6.00-8.50;
Vegetables, Roots & Tubers: Ampalaya – 50.00-110.00, Eggplant – 50.00-100.00, Squash – 20.00-
35.00, Chayote – 20.00-35.00, Cabbage – 60.00-90.00, Pechay, Native – 60.00-90.00, Kangkong (per
bundle) – 10.00-20.00, Stringbeans – 40.00-75.00, Carrots – 50.00-90.00, Gabi – 55.00-70.00, Gabi –
55.00-70.00, Camote – 20.00-35.00, Ginger – 110.00-150.00, Garlic Bulbs – 170.00-230.00, Onion
Bermuda Red -110.00-200.00;
Fruits & Other Upland Crops: Lakatan – 60.00-70.00, Latundan – 35.00-45.00, Mango 85.00-120.00,
Watermelon – 35.00-40.00, Calamansi – 50.00-70.00, Papaya – 30.00-40.00;
Fresh Fish: Bangus/ Milkfish – 160.00-200.00, Salimbagon/ Skipjack Tuna – 180-280, Tulingan/
Frigate Tuna – 180.00-220.00, Tamban Tuloy/ Goldstripe Sardinella – 60.00-100.00, Galunggong/ Borot-
borot/ Round Scad – 150.00-220.00, Tamarong/ Big-eyed scad – 180.00-280.00, Molmol/ Parrot Fish –
200.00-280.00, Danggit/ Rabbit Fish – 200.00-280.00, Hasa-hasa/ Short-bodied Mackerel – 220.00-
250.00, Tilapia – 160.00;
Dried Fish: Mangsi – 160.00-250.00, Potpot – 240.00-280.00, Bolinao – 300.00-350.00;
Other Products: Refined Sugar – 47.00-60.00, Brown Sugar – 37.00-46.00, Cooking Oil – 20.00-
22.00.
Atty. Diputado pointed out that pursuant to Republic Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the Price Act,
which provides protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime
commodities and recommending measures against undue price increase during the emergency situations
and like occasion, and after consultation with government agency partners, thus DA-RFO7 endorsed the
SPC. (Atoy Cosap)

BASIC COMMODITIES. Prices of some basic commodities in the province of Bohol to include well milled and
regular milled rice, ginger, calamansi, lakatan banana, cooking oil, have been monitored to have a
remarkable increase amid the implementation of price freeze due to COVID-19. Photo by April Regine Inocian