Photo courtesy: Gov. Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu FB
COTABATO CITY (March 11) — Amid rising fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East, the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat has reactivated its price monitoring body to curb possible overpricing and protect consumers from market abuse.
Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu signed Executive Order 112 on Tuesday reviving the Provincial Price Stabilization Council (PPSC), a multi-agency body tasked with monitoring fuel and basic commodity prices across the province.
The governor said the move is a “proactive measure” to address growing concerns about price increases triggered by surging petroleum costs.
“This is to ensure prices of basic commodities, especially petroleum products, are in accordance with government-set pricing and to ensure stable supply of essential goods in the province,” Mangudadatu said in a statement.
The council will also monitor possible hoarding, price manipulation, and other unfair trading practices by retailers and suppliers.
The revived council will be chaired by Mangudadatu, with the vice governor serving as co-chair, and will bring together key provincial officials and national government representatives, including the provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry and the provincial head of the National Food Authority.
Members also include local chief executives from the province’s one city and 11 municipalities, along with representatives from business groups such as the Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, transport sector leaders, the police provincial office, and the military’s mechanized brigade.
The council’s reactivation comes as local governments across the country brace for possible ripple effects of global oil market volatility, which could drive up the cost of transportation, food, and other essential goods.
For many residents, the concern is not only the price of fuel but the cascading impact on everyday expenses, as transport fares and market prices often follow oil price movements.
Local officials say the strengthened monitoring mechanism is meant to ensure that price increases remain justified—and that consumers are shielded from profiteering during periods of economic uncertainty.
