P.O. Box 1161, QCCPO, NCR, Philippines 1100
Cell No. : +63 917-812-5546
Email : labankonsyumer@gmail.com
: dimagibavic@gmail.com
: dmagiba@pldtdsl.net
Facebook: Laban Konsyumer Inc.
Website : www.labankonsyumer.com
LKI PRESS STATEMENT 2020-21
May 1, 2020
CONSUMER GROUP CALLS FOR CONTINUED PRICE FREEZE ON LPG AND BASIC GOODS, APPEALS TO IATF FOR IMPLEMENTATION
In a public statement today and morning interview with DZBB’s Melo Del Prado, consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) and its President Atty. Vic Dimagiba explained that “because the country is in a state of CONTINUING NATIONAL emergency, the law states that continuing measures should address the pandemic. When it comes to Section 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT 11469 OR the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act , continuing measures ensure that there is no hoarding, price manipulation, cartel, profiteering. This is a special law, and the price freeze of LPG AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES should continue, even after the 60 days. IATF should ensure that the price freeze is continued and strictly enforced and implemented as long as there is a national crisis and pandemic, leading to an ECQ or lockdown. People cannot afford for higher prices in these commodities.”
LKI believes that “Until the declaration of national emergency is not yet lifted, all the price freezes should continue, with LPG included as basic necessity. Basic commodities include food, water, noodles, which is under the amendment of the price act. The implementation should be a wide execution, and the price freeze should exceed the 60 days. If it is not followed, the punishment should be more than a million pesos. Prices should not be changing during this time of national emergency.”
Dimagiba highlighted how “Another law will kick in once this crisis is over. And we should just wait for that before putting a stop to these measures like price freeze. The price freeze should be implemented on petroleum products during the pandemic. We must think of the no work, no pay consumers who have no means or way of paying for high prices of commodities and basic goods. The punishment for those who do not follow the price freeze ranges from ten thousand to one million pesos and this should be strictly enforced.”
The consumer group committed that “As long as we are under lockdown, and enhanced community quarantine, LKI vows to push for a further price freeze and appeal to the IATF to continue the Bayanihan Heal as One Act, and ensure the following of the continuation until the lawyers and the President declares otherwise. The extension of the price freeze will go a long way in ensuring the consumer welfare for our poor brothers and sisters.”
Dimagiba held on to the position that “The spirit of the declaration should be respected and honored, and the word ‘continuing’ is clear in the sense that this is a very special law that should be implemented. The interpretation should be widened and expanded, in consideration of consumers with no work during the ECQ and lockdown. Price freeze should be put on all basic goods and commodities for the betterment and protection of consumers nationwide.” END.
https://youtu.be/w1qMrFMYcUk