Paglilimita sa presyo ng mga gamot at iba pang pangunahing produkto

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | January 24, 2022

Dear Chief Acosta,

Napapabalita ngayon na nagkakaubusan ng mga gamot para sa lagnat. Marami rin akong nakikita at nababasa na nagbebenta ng mga karaniwang gamot nang higit sa normal na presyo ng mga ito. Mayroon bang kakayahan ang ating Pangulo na maglagay ng limitasyon sa presyo ng mga gamot kung sakaling sadyang maging laganap na ang pagpapatong sa presyo? – Deena

Dear Deena,

Sa pangkalahatan, polisiya ng ating pamahalaan na siguruhing mapoprotektahan ang mga mamimili mula sa mga mapang-abusong pagpapatong ng presyo ng mga pangunahing pamilihan, lalo na sa mga panahon ng kalamidad at kagipitan. Ang mga gamot ay kabilang sa mga maaaring makonsidera na pangunahing pamilihan alinsunod sa probisyon ng Republic Act No. 10623, na nag-amyenda sa ilang bahagi ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7581 o mas kilala bilang “Price Act”:

“Section 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term:

(1) ‘Basic necessities’ are goods vital to the needs of consumers for their sustenance and existence in times of any of the cases provided under Section 6 or 7 of this Act such as, but not limited to, rice, corn, root crops, bread; fresh, dried or canned fish and other marine products; fresh pork, beef and poultry meat; fresh eggs; potable water in bottles and containers; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables and fruits; locally manufactured instant noodles; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap and detergents; firewood; charcoal; household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene; candles; drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health and such other goods as may be included under Section 4 of this Act;"

x x x

(8) ‘Prime Commodities’ are goods not considered as basic necessities but are essential to consumers in times of any of the cases provided under Section 7 of this Act such as, but not limited to, flour; dried, processed or canned pork, beef and poultry meat; dairy products not falling under basic necessities; onions, garlic, vinegar, patis, soy sauce; toilet soap; fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides; poultry, livestock and fishery feeds and veterinary products; paper; school supplies; nipa shingles; sawali; cement; clinker; GI sheets; hollow blocks; plywood; plyboard; construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs; steel wire; all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the Department of Health and such other goods as may be included under Section 4 of this Act.”

(Binigyang-diin)

Kung kaya’t sakaling maging laganap ang hindi makatarungang pagtaas ng presyo ng ilan sa mga nabanggit na pangunahing bilihin, kabilang na ang mga medisina at mayroong angkop na rekomendasyon mula sa ating Pangulo ay maaaring maglagay ng limitasyon sa presyo ng mga ito. Ito ay alinsunod sa Section 7 ng R. A. No. 7581, kung saan nakasaad ang mga sumusunod:

“Sec. 7. Mandated Price Ceiling. – The President, upon the recommendation of the implementing agency, or the Price Coordinating Council, may impose a price ceiling on any basic necessity or prime commodity if any of the following conditions so warrants:

1. The impendency, existence, or effects of a calamity;

2. The threat, existence, or effect of an emergency;

3. The prevalence or widespread acts of illegal price manipulation;

4. The impendency, existence, or effect of any event that causes artificial and unreasonable increase in the price of the basic necessity or prime-commodity; and

5. Whenever the prevailing price of any basic necessity or prime commodity has risen to unreasonable levels.”

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.