The Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Palawan has urged municipal governments across Palawan to activate their price monitoring councils to track the cost of basic goods as fuel prices continue to rise.
In a resolution passed on March 17, the provincial board called on local government units to strengthen price monitoring in response to the ongoing oil price crisis.
Board Member Juan Antonio Alvarez, author of Resolution No. 0290-26, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Palawan sought assistance due to limited personnel.
“Humingi ng tulong ‘yung DTI province sa atin na tulongan silang imonitor ‘yung mga presyo sa mga munisipalities natin kasi kulang sila sa tao, parang tatlo lang yata sila sa buong lalawigan,” Alvarez said during a regular session.
The resolution aims to ensure closer monitoring of prices of basic commodities, which are expected to be affected by rising fuel costs.
The provincial board also passed a separate resolution supporting Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in suspending or reducing excise taxes on petroleum products amid the global crisis.
“These measures are needed to support our fight over the looming—well hindi na looming, nandiyan na, we’re already facing a crisis in terms of the prices of fuel and s’yempre ‘pag tumaas ‘yung fuel damay damay po lahat ng commodities dahil everything is run by fuel,” Alvarez said.
Earlier, the Provincial Government of Palawan and the Puerto Princesa City government, along with national agencies, convened on March 12 to discuss the potential impact of Middle East tensions on oil prices, basic commodities, trade, and tourism in the province.
