Some local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental have convened and activated their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) to ensure full implementation of the price freeze, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Dumaguete City said yesterday.

DTI-Negros Oriental provincial director Nimfa Virtucio told the Philippine News Agency that the LGUs are mandated to create LPCCs based on a joint memorandum of the DTI and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The price freeze is designed to ensure that no one will take advantage of the state of calamity and jack up prices of basic commodities beyond the suggested retail price.

“We are hoping that the LGUs in Negros Oriental will convene and activate their LPCCs as the DTI cannot possibly implement the price freeze alone due to lack of manpower to cover the entire province,” Virtucio said.

While the joint circular mandates the creation of LPCCs at the provincial and city levels only, municipalities are also enjoined to do the same, she added.

The LGUs with active LPCCs are Bayawan City, Amlan, San Jose, Bais City and Tanjay City.

The municipality of Mabinay is also expected to convene and activate its LPCC soon following a meeting on Tuesday, May 21, with the DTI.

Virtucio said some LGUs are asking the DTI to brief them on the functions of the LPCC so they can participate in the monitoring and implementation of the price freeze on basic commodities.

The price freeze took effect immediately after the April 26 declaration of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, placing Negros Oriental province under a state of calamity due to agricultural losses caused by El Niño.

The duration of the price freeze is only for 60 days or shorter, once the state of calamity is lifted, Virtucio said.

So far, no violations of the price freeze have been reported to their office, she said. (PNA)