BUTUAN CITY, DILG, DOH, DTI, PNP – BUTUAN JOINT GUIDELINES IN ENFORCING VIOLATIONS OF RA

7581 or THE PRICE ACT IN COMPLIANCE WITH DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2020-018

WHEREAS, under Section 5.1.6. of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-062, the Local Chief
Executive, as head of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), shall monitor prices of medicines and
preventive gadgets, and file charges against hoarding or overpricing;

WHEREAS, under Section 2 of JMC No. 2020-01 issued by the DA, DTI and DOH entitled “Price
Freeze under a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines due to CoVid-19”, the aforementioned
agency shall create a composite team that will intensify monitoring and enforcement to prevent and
control overpricing/profiteering, hoarding and cartel. They shall, in coordination with the Department of
Justice, shall take appropriate actions against illegal acts committed as enumerated in Section 5 of the
Price Act;

WHEREAS, Section 5 of JMC No. 2020-01 states that, the DA, DTI and DOH, in coordination with
the DILG, shall ensure that the LPCC are fully mobilized and operational.

Section 1. Objectives. – These guidelines aim to continually implement the price freeze measures on all
basic necessities under the jurisdiction of DA, DTI, and DOH, including those essential products referred
at: (1) DA Administrative Circular No. 01, S. 2020; (2) DOH Department Memorandum Circular No. 2020-
058; 2020-058-A, 2020-058-B, and DOH Circular No. 2020-0142; and DTI-Agusan Del Norte published
Price Freeze Advisory dated March __, 2020.

Section 2. Scope. - The provisions hereof shall apply to all persons, natural or juridical, including those
selling in the online platform or other mediums.

Section 3. Monitoring. - The Local Price Coordinating Council, through the Bantay Presyo Task Force
(BPTF), composed primarily and especially by member agencies, such as but not limited to, Department
of Agriculture (DA), City Agriculture (CA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade & Industry
(DTI), City Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion Office (CTIIPO), and National Food Authority (NFA),
shall ensure the adequacy of supply and compliance of Suggested Retail Prices and Prevailing Prices
during the implementation of Price Freeze for the products covered by this issuance.

Section 4. Enforcement. - Upon verification of complaints by the BPTF, or by its own initiative or motu
propio, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Butuan City Incident Management Team
– Enforcement Unit (IMT-EU) and/or the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall conduct operations
and/or investigations to prevent and control overpricing/profiteering, hoarding or cartel.

The BPTF shall forward reports, prepared by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG),
Butuan City Incident Management Team – Enforcement Unit (IMT-EU) and/or the Philippine National
Police (PNP), to the City Legal Office for appropriate actions against illegal acts committed as
enumerated under Section 5 of the Price Act.

Section 5. Seizure. - Overpriced or hoarded products are considered as illegal per se and shall be seized
by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Butuan City Incident Management Team –
Enforcement Unit (IMT-EU) and/or the Philippine National Police (PNP) in favor of the government.

Section 6. Jurisdiction. –
 a. Administrative Jurisdiction – Nothing in these guidelines shall diminish or transfer the
administrative jurisdiction of DA, DTI, DOH, and NFA pursuant to the Price Act, nor shall these
guidelines diminish or transfer the powers of the Butuan City LGU.
b. Criminal Jurisdiction – The CIDG, PNP, implementing agencies and all other parties necessary
shall assist in the prosecution of criminal charges before the Office of the City Prosecutor and
regular courts.

Section 7. Effectivity. – These Joint Guidelines shall be effective immediately and applicable during the
entire period of the State of Calamity

Issued this ____ day of March 2020 in Butuan City, Philippines.

ENGR. RONNIE VICENTE C. LAGNADA BRENDA B. CORVERA

City Mayor Provincial Director, ADN-DTI
LPCC, Chairman LPCC, Vice Chair

ABEL JAMES I. MONTEAGUDO JOSE R. LLACUNA, JR.

Regional Executive Director, DA Regional Director IV, DOH

CHARISSA T. GUERTA PCOL. CANILO AGUA

City DILG Director City PNP Director

Witnessed by:

REYNANTE B. DESIATA
Acting City Administrator