TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan. 24 (PIA) -- Within the week, 12 stores and supermarkets with government accreditation will be forced to appear before the regional adjudication officer to air their side on their blatant disregard to the price freeze order which the government issued amid a state of calamity.

Having been delivered Notices of Violations (NOV), these store owners have to personally appear before the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Adjudication Officer within 48 hours upon receipt of the notice, or the government agency escalates the overpricing case to the courts for proper litigation.

After that, they either get a fine of between P5,000 to P1,000,000 or P5,000 to P2,000,000 depending on the affixed violation.

DTI can hail the store for violation of the Price Freeze, which has a maximum penalty of P1,000.000 or use the Fair Trade Law on Acts of Illegal Price Manipulation.

The 12 establishments are part of the 76 stores, establishments, and supermarkets which the DTI and the Local Price Coordinating Councils hailed for selling overpriced basic necessities and prime commodities.

Earlier, after the DTI issued the price freeze order on Dec. 21, the department froze the prices to protect the consumers from unscrupulous businessmen who prey on the victims of calamity.

The 76 stores, establishments, and supermarkets have been issued Letters of Inquiry or Show Cause Orders as a formal observance of the due process in pursuing those who sabotage the government in times of calamities.

Across the region, the DTI in Central Visayas handed a total of 84 letters of inquiry, which allowed the perceived violators some three working days to check on the DTI for their violations.

Of the 84, eight of them are stores, of which four have been issued NOVs.

A store in Cebu has reportedly admitted culpability and paid a P5,000 penalty.

With the penalty is a potential black list in the DTI for the store.

As this went on, the DTI continues to call on consumers to report any perceived violation against the price freeze or any illegal trade practice that could sabotage the local economy. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)