The sky blossomed like a flower-- On March 8, 2026, the Panagbenga Festival 2026 was ended with a breathtaking fireworks show that lit up the Baguio skyline. **Photo by neimless_skills
BAGUIO CITY – The city government and national government agencies have teamed up in cracking down on overpricing of commodities amid soaring oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday said he ordered the Local Price Coordinating Council in a meeting on Monday to assess the potential effects of the conflict on local markets and ensure that measures are in place to protect consumers amid uncertainties in the global market that may affect prices of basic goods.
“We will go after these opportunists, issue notices of violation, and if they fail to properly explain their price range, then we will cancel their business permits,” Magalong said.
The council’s members reviewed the city’s current price monitoring mechanisms and discussed strategies to combat overpricing and other unfair trade practices.
These strategies include strengthening coordination among concerned offices and stakeholders to closely monitor commodity prices and respond quickly to any unusual increases.
“Information dissemination will be intensified to guide the public on the authorized prices of commodities,” Magalong said.
The city’s Public Information Office (PIO) social media page will also regularly post price lists from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and other offices to inform and guide the public.
A unified consumer reporting platform will be set up by the Department of Information and Communication (DICT) where people can report incidents for immediate action by concerned offices such as DTI for basic commodities and construction materials, DA for livestock and fruits and vegetables, and the Department of Health (DOH) for medicines, among others.
Magalong said they have engagements with business groups to ensure compliance with pricing and trade practices.
The mayor is set to meet with gas dealers and retailers and business associations like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to forge agreements on guarding against abusive trade practices and ensuring stable commodity prices.
On Tuesday morning, the city’s price monitoring council was dispatched for a joint monitoring of the supply and prices of fuel and basic goods. **Liza Agoot
