By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/Philippine News Agency
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Antique Provincial Price Coordinating Committee has decided not to impose the automatic price ceiling (APC) on basic necessities and prime commodities even though the province is under a state of calamity.
Glen Fernando, trade and industry development specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry – Antique, said in an interview Wednesday that the coordinating committee passed a resolution not to impose the APC because, based on their monitoring report, the El Niño phenomenon did not have adverse effects on the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.
“(The) Antique Provincial Price Coordinating Committee, presided by Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Nicolasito Calawag, during our meeting passed a resolution not to impose the APC,” Fernando said.
He said that prices of basic and prime commodities remained stable in May and June. Moreover, their monitoring showed enough goods in stores.
“The El Niño phenomenon has not affected the delivery of goods to the retail stores in the province,” he said.
Fernando added that they need to pass a resolution regarding the non-imposition of the APC because Republic Act 7581 provides that whenever there is a state of calamity, the APC should be implemented.
“The Municipal Provincial Price Coordinating Councils of Sibalom and Sebaste that have declared a state of calamity have also not recommended the APC,” he said.
Sibalom and Sebaste were the first municipalities to declare a state of calamity due to damage to agricultural crops. They were followed by Barbaza and Anini-y towns.
The province of Antique was declared under a state of calamity last June 13.
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