By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Butuan City government here has intensified price monitoring and formed a multi-agency task force to prevent oil price manipulation following recent fuel price increases linked to global supply concerns.
Mayor Law Fortun convened on Tuesday an emergency meeting with local officials and partner agencies to assess the possible impact of rising fuel prices on consumers and businesses in the city.
During the meeting, Fortun warned establishments and individuals against taking advantage of the situation, stressing that the city would strictly monitor prices to protect consumers.
As part of the response, the city activated “Oplan Bantay Presyo,” a task force that will strengthen monitoring and enforcement efforts against hoarding and price manipulation.
The task force includes several local government offices as well as representatives from national agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Philippine National Police, National Food Authority and Department of Health, along with civil society groups.
Beginning Tuesday, the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Division will conduct inspections of commercial establishments to check for possible hoarding and price manipulation. Local officials will also inspect fuel stations across the city.
The city government also urged consumers to report establishments charging prices higher than prevailing market rates through a hotline set up by the local government.
Fortun said the intensified monitoring aims to reassure residents that authorities are actively working to safeguard consumers from unjustified price increases.
Meanwhile, the city government also announced adjustments in its work schedule following a directive from Malacañang to adopt a temporary four-day workweek for government offices as part of national energy conservation efforts.
The measure was ordered under Memorandum Circular No. 114 issued by the Office of the President of the Philippines to help reduce electricity consumption and fuel use amid rising global oil prices.
Despite the change in internal schedules, the Butuan City government said its frontline offices would continue to operate five days a week to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.
Fortun said maintaining accessibility of government services remains the city’s priority even while complying with national energy-saving measures.
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