By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing the need to intensify price and supply monitoring efforts in markets to protect consumers from profiteering as the country prepares for the La Niña phenomenon when El Niño exits, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has warned that authorities will go after hoarders and manipulators preying on consumers.
Teodoro, the chairperson of the government’s Task Force El Niño, said curbing price manipulation and holding hoarders accountable will be among the priorities in the government’s response to La Niña, which is seen to start developing in June.
“Access to affordable basic commodities such as rice is crucial to millions of Filipino consumers. Any sudden fluctuation in the price of rice resonates [in] the daily lives of Filipinos,” Teodoro said in a statement.
It can be recalled that during the presidential task force’s meeting at Camp Aguinaldo earlier this month, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense (DND) is ready to provide support to concerned government agencies in the price monitoring of necessities and prime commodities.
“Whatever support is needed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, rest assured we are here ready to assist them,” Teodoro vowed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
