The Department of Trade and Industry’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau announced the success of its “Sweeptember” campaign to penalize violators of fair trade laws in Metro Manila.
The campaign was intended to ensure stable prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities in the capital region, DTI said in a statement.
FTEB officer-in-charge Marimel Dancel Porciuncula and FTEB assistant OIC Joseph Manuel P. Pamittan led the inspection of prices at 76 retail firms within Pasig, Parañaque, Malabon and Quezon City.
Used as basis of the monitoring were the suggested retail prices of basic commodities listed in the DTI bulletin dated 12 August this year.
The DTI noted that out of the 76 inspected firms, 70 were compliant with the SRP bulletin which translates to over 92 percent SRP compliance rate in the NCR.
However, six retail firms were issued letter of inquiries for selling items priced higher than the SRP.
With this, the stores have to submit written explanations within 72 hours from the receipt of the letter. To date, four out of the six already submitted their written explanations.
Moreover, the DTI issued a show cause order to 51 retail firms for apparently pricing commodities 10 percent higher than the preceding month, and without or with inconsistent price tags.
The SCO gives them 48 hours from receipt within which to submit written explanations.
“The launch of the “Sweeptember” initiative is a step ahead of the price movement that the rainy season might cause to ensure that only quality and reasonably -priced products will be available for our consumers,” Porciuncula said.
Meanwhile, Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo commended the cities with firms that have shown adherence to the SRP bulletin, which gives consumers the freedom to choose products they can afford.
“We encourage sellers and manufacturers to comply with the SRP bulletin as such informs and protects consumers from deceptive or unconscionable transactions,” Castelo said.