The Department of Trade and Industry is monitoring the prices of construction materials in Iligan City in preparation for reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in its neighboring city, Marawi.
DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group Teodoro Pascua said the agency would like to check the movement of prices of construction materials in the area to avoid profiteering.
“We are checking the situation and current prices of construction materials there. Once Marawi City is regained, there will be rehabilitation, cleanup, and relief efforts, then eventually reconstruction. So we want to know what would be the movement of prices,” Pascua added.
Early this week, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and Pascua visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City to check the situation of supplies and prices of goods in nearby conflict areas.
He mentioned that monitoring of prices will help prevent retailers from jacking up prices of construction materials due to the expected upsurge in demand in reconstruction efforts in Marawi City.
Pascua said there is heightened monitoring of prices and supplies from its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) both in basic and prime commodities.
But the official noted that construction materials are part of prime commodities and are not covered by the price freeze, hence, the need for strengthened monitoring activities. (PNA)
