The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance prohibiting hoarding and panic buying of basic and prime commodities during public health emergencies, conflagrations and calamities in the city, prescribing penalties for violation and for other purposes.
Under the proposed ordinance, it aims to ensure that basic necessities and prime commodities are readily available during public health emergencies and calamities that strike anytime.
The ordinance shall apply to any act involving hoarding or panic buying within the city during declared public health emergencies, conflagrations and calamities.
The ordinance declared that the hoarding or panic buying of any basic commodity or prime commodity during a declared state of public health emergency of state of calamity in the city is prohibited, provide, however, that the purchase of large volumes or quantities of basic or prime commodities during the state of public health emergency, conflagration or calamity for use by personnel in the emergency or health frontline services, border control and other critical services shall not be considered as hoarding or panic buying.
The proposed measure explained that any excess over the allowed quantity of basic necessities and prime commodities shall be considered as hoarding or panic buying.
The ordinance authorized the City Mayor to create a task force, designate the concerned department, division or office to take charge of the implementation of the pertinent provisions of the ordinance.
Any violation of the pertinent provisions of the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P2,000 for the second offense and a fine of P3,000 and eight hours of community service for individuals.
The ordinance claimed that the hoarding or basic commodities or panic buying during public health emergencies, conflagrations and calamities is contrary to public order, public morals and public policy.
Under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, every local government unit is tasked to exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied, as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare of the people.
The ordinance explained that the imposition of limitations on the number of items being sold to consumers and retailers is necessary in times of public health emergencies, conflagrations and calamities to guarantee that every family will have equal opportunities to avail of basic necessities and prime commodities. By Dexter A. See