Only four of the 11 municipalities in Catanduanes have reactivated their respective Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs), prompting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to urge the other towns to do the same.
The call was made by DILG Catanduanes Provincial Director Uldarico Razal Jr. last July 29, 2025 during the Capacity Building Seminar for Members of LPCC conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Rakdell Inn.
In his report, he said that only Baras, Caramoran, Pandan and San Andres local government units have reactivated their LPCCs as of July 2025.
Of the four towns, only Baras and San Andres have conducted regular inspections of private and public markets while the councils in Caramoran, Pandan and San Andres have actively coordinated with other agencies to prevent unwarranted price increases.
However, none of them have deputized barangay officials and non-government organizations to monitor abnormal price increases and conducted other price monitoring activities on their own.
Likewise, they have no existing efforts to address the issue of smuggled goods, if any.
In the last available report on council activities in 2023, almost all of the LGUs were compliant witj the mandated measures, except in the deputation of barangay officials and NGOs, Dir. Razal stated.
Before LPCC members from the 11 towns, the DILG official discussed key DILG Memorandum Circulars on LPCCs, which are tasked with monitoring and stabilizing the prices of basic commodities pursuant to the Price Act.
Republic Act 7581 aims to protect consumers from unreasonable price increases, especially during emergencies or calamities.
The council is composed of the local chief executive as chairperson, a DTI representative as vice chairperson, and the treasurer, budget officer, planning and development officer, market administrator, consumer affairs officer, and representatives from consumer groups, business sector, the PNP, DA, DOH, DENR and DILG as members.
The LGUs conduct regular inspections of markets to track price movements and supply levels of basic necessities and prime commodities, as well as recommend Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) and price ceilings to the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC).
During calamities or crises, LGUs help implement price control measures such as price freezes and assist and assist in the distribution of goods.
They also provide space for initiatives like the KADIWA and Diskwento Caravan which offer affordable goods to the public.
During the same seminar, DA regional office Agriculturist II Neil Francia Bordon focused on the procedures and strategies of the DA with respect to the Price Act and other laws.
In the DA, the Agribusiness Industry Support Section (AISS) conducts price and supply monitoring of agricultural products in selected markets of the six Bicol provinces and prepares a Weekly Price Comparative Analysis.
Its Digital Agriculture Project (DAP) strengthens the provision of market information through ICT-based systems, including real-time data, market trends and the Bantay Presyo Monitoring System (BPMS).
Other speakers were DTI V Consumer Protection Division Chief Ruben Sombon on the Price Act and the role of DTI in the LPCC, and LDRRMO IV Roberto Monterola on common hazards and risks in the province.
DTI Provincial Director Maria Belma Escueta delivered the welcome remarks while Consumer Protection Division Head STIDS Celeste Tribiana handled the open forum.