NI NOEL ABUEL
Kinalampag ng isang kongresista ang Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at ng lahat ng local government units (LGUs) na ipinatutupad ng mga ito ang Price Tag Law laban sa mga abusadong negosyante.
Kasabay nito, binalaan ni Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chair ng House tourism committee ang mga retailers sa tourism sector tulad ng gift shops at food stalls na mapaparusahan sa oras na mabigong maglagay ng price tags sa mga produktong ibinebenta ng mga ito.
“Under the Consumer Act, all retailers, including those in the tourism industry, are compelled, under pain of penalties, to display a tag to indicate the price of every product or service in pesos and centavos,” sabi ni Rillo.
“It is illegal to offer any product or service for retail sale to the public without a price tag, which is required precisely to ensure pricing transparency and prevent abuses,” dagdag nito.
Tugon ito ng kongresista sa ulat na sobra-sobrang singil sa biniling seafood products sa Virgin Island sa Panglao na pinagpiyestahan sa social media dahilan upang kumilos ang Bohol provincial government na suspendehinn ang biyahe ng mga Bangka papunta sa nasabing tourist destination.
“Products and services cannot be sold at a price higher than what is indicated in the price tag,” ani Rillo.
Sinabi pa ng mambabatas, sa first-time violators ng price tag requirement ay mahaharap sa pagkakakulong ng hanggang 6-buwan o multang aabot sa P5,000, o parehong parusa base s autos ng korte.
Sa sandal naman aniyang mapatunayang paulit-ulit ang paglabag ay awtomatikong pagbawi sa business permit at license to operate.
“We need strong enforcement to guarantee compliance,” sabi ni Rillo.
Kinalampag din nito ang DOT na ipatupad ang tungkulin nito na suportahan ang mga lokal at dayuhang turista laban sa mga abusadong negosyante.
“We are aware of the problem of pricing abuses, which is apparently being abetted by the weak enforcement of the price tag mandate. For instance, in the provinces, if you go to the markets frequented by tourists, you seldom see price tags. And even if you are a Filipino, if you do not speak the local dialect, you are likely to get charged a higher price for your purchase of native products or delicacies,” paliwanag ni Rillo.
“This is also a violation of the law, which forbids discrimination in the treatment of buyers. It is illegal to have two prices for the same product or service – one price for out-of-town visitors and another price for locals,” giit nito.
OnlineBalita news 