PAGASA's STC was invited to attend an emergency online meeting in the morning of 7 November 2024 to clarify DTI's recent switch in price monitoring system and regulations in view of the Department's newly-appointed leadership and redirected thrust.

Newly-appointed Asec. Agaton Uvero was assisted by Acting Dir. Atty. Che Carbonell in officiating this Mtg. It was joined by SM, Robinsons & the Metro Retail Group.

STC informed the DTI that their inspectors from FTEB (Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau) were out as early as yesterday checking on one of PAGASA's member-store's prices using an SRP List that was dated Jan. 2024 (which was outdated). Naturally, upon that store's verification, some of the listed selling prices of the 237 sku's were practically retailers' recent acquisition costs for said items! An updated List came out July 2024 but was NOT circulated to the public via DTI website!

Also, STC intimated that an LGU in MM has declared a state of calamity following heavy rains brought about by recent Typhoon Katrine (even when damages were not deemed substantial) but its City Council declared a price freeze for that area's food retailers. Penalty if found violating was P1M and imprisonment! Now where did this LGU dig up its prices for comparison or as basis for saying that there indeed was unfair increase of prices over declared period of time? DTI should solidify definitions and boundaries for identifying violations, what constitutes fair pricing and the authorities to enforce said violations.