TASK Force El Niño chair Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., has warned that authorities will go after hoarders and manipulators preying on consumers ahead of La Niña phenomenon.
In a meeting meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense (DND) is ready to provide support to concerned government agencies in the price monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities.
He said curbing price manipulation and holding hoarders accountable will be among the priorities in the government’s response for La Niña, which is seen to start developing in June.
“Access to affordable basic commodities such as rice is exceptionally crucial to millions of Filipino consumers. Any sudden fluctuation in the price of rice resonates [in] the daily lives of Filipinos,” Teodoro said in a statement.
“Whatever support is needed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, rest assured we are here ready to assist them,” he added.
Teodoro also underscored the need to intensify price and supply monitoring efforts in markets to protect consumers from profiteering amid the weather phenomenon.
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