MAKILALA, North Cotabato — Earthquake survivors here are doubly hurt, the need to food and the snowballing prices of goods.
Unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the increasing demand for shelter tents ‘trapal’ , water and other basic stuff here, earthquake survivors has to suffer the price increase just to fend for themselves.
For the tent (trapal), instead of the usual P60 to 70 per meter-is now sold at P200; the bread which cost P25 to P60; a 250ml bottled water from P10 to 25; a 4 liter bottled from P45 , now it is sold at P90 to P100.
Mario Ampa, a survivor said he need to buy because his family needs it “Bahala na ug mahal, basta naa lang (Even if it is expensive as long as we can have it).
This is happening despite the order of Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista for local police to arrest traders who take advantage of the crisis.
The warning of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) North Cotabato, and the order of Evangelista have not been effected. Market reality say otherwise.
The DTI Cotabato Province Consumer Protection Division calls for the consumers to identify and report names and locations of establishments that sell goods at a very high price so they can work with the PNP to conduct an arrest and confiscate the overpriced goods.
Despite all the warnings, still unscrupulous traders take advantage at the quake survivors expense.-ezc
