Nasa P200-M halaga ng frozen at exotic food products, nabisto sa pasilidad na walang... | Saksi

GMA Integrated News

27 Sept 202404:33

Summary

TLDRThe Philippine Trade Department aims to maintain low prices until Christmas despite requests for price increases. The NBI raids an unlicensed cold storage facility in Bulacan, seizing millions of pesos worth of frozen and exotic food products, some potentially dangerous due to improper inspection. The facility faces charges for tax evasion and smuggling, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. The DTI inspects markets and supermarkets to ensure suggested retail prices are followed, finding some products cheaper than the SRP. Consumers are advised to wait for possible price increases, and Valenzuela City is vigilant against the spread of African swine fever.

Takeaways

🛑 The trade department is targeting to keep prices high until Christmas despite requests from the NBI for price increases.
🚫 The NBI has raided a facility in Bulacan for improperly stored frozen and exotic food products, some of which may be health hazards.
🦠 The products seized include meats and seafoods that could potentially carry diseases like bird flu and foot and mouth disease.
💸 The NBI claims the facility owes the government 120 million pesos in unpaid taxes.
📢 There have been intercepted communications offering these products to intended clients through secret channels.
🏭 The facility is accused of having incorporators who are two Filipinos and one Chinese national, facing agricultural smuggling charges.
📉 The Department of Trade and Industry has conducted inspections in Valenzuela City and found some products cheaper than the suggested retail price.
📈 There is a concern that manufacturers might increase prices, but currently, there are no confirmed price hikes.
🛒 Consumers are advised to budget wisely and wait before shopping if possible, as prices may rise in the coming months.
🚔 Valenzuela City is tightening border controls to prevent the spread of African swine fever from pigs entering Metro Manila.

Q & A

What is the target of the trade department regarding price control?
-The trade department aims to control prices until Christmas, despite requests for price increases from the NBI.
What is the issue with the cold storage facility in Marilao, Bulacan?
-The facility was found to be operating without the proper permits, storing millions of pesos worth of frozen and exotic food products, potentially dangerous to public health.
What types of products were found in the illegal storage facility?
-The NBI found various frozen meat products including beef, chicken, pork, and even exotic foods that did not pass proper health inspections.
What health risks are associated with the products found in the facility?
-The products could potentially carry diseases such as bird flu and foot and mouth disease, posing a significant health risk to humans.
What was the financial impact of the illegal storage and sale of these products?
-The government is estimated to have lost around 120 million pesos in taxes due to the improper storage and sale of these products.
What actions were taken by the NBI regarding the illegal facility?
-The NBI conducted raids, intercepted communications, and arrested individuals involved in the illegal operation, including two Filipinos and one Chinese national.
What are the legal consequences for those involved in the illegal operation?
-The individuals involved face charges of agricultural smuggling and could be subject to penalties including imprisonment and fines.
What is the Department of Trade and Industry's stance on price increases?
-The DTI is conducting inspections and monitoring price increases, aiming to maintain suggested retail prices and prevent unjustified price hikes.
How are prices of basic goods compared in Valenzuela City?
-Inspections revealed that prices of basic goods in Valenzuela City are cheaper than the suggested retail price, even though manufacturers have not yet increased prices.
What is the advice given to consumers regarding shopping during the holiday season?
-Consumers are advised to be cautious and budget wisely, as price increases may occur before the holiday season.
What measures are being taken to prevent the spread of African swine fever in Metro Manila?
-Valenzuela City is tightening border controls to prevent the entry of pigs that may be infected with African swine fever into Metro Manila.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Price Control and Smuggling Raid

The Trade Department is aiming to control prices until Christmas despite requests for price increases from the NBI. The NBI has raided a facility in Marilo, Bulacan, for illegal storage of frozen and exotic food products worth millions, which may pose health risks due to improper inspection. The products include beef, poultry, and seafood potentially carrying diseases like bird flu and foot and mouth disease. The NBI also found that the facility owed 120 million pesos in taxes. The Department of Trade and Industry has conducted inspections and suggested retail prices to prevent price hikes, especially for sardines, bread, and other staple goods. Consumers are advised to wait for price assessments before shopping, and the government is taking measures to prevent the spread of African swine fever.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Price increase

A price increase refers to the rise in the cost of goods or services over time. In the context of the video, the trade department is aiming to control price increases, particularly for frozen and exotic food products, to ensure affordability during the holiday season. The script mentions concerns about price hikes and the department's efforts to maintain stable prices, which is crucial for consumer welfare and economic stability.

💡NBI

NBI stands for the National Bureau of Investigation, which is the Philippines' national investigative and law enforcement agency. In the video, the NBI is involved in raids and operations against illegal cold storage facilities that store unregulated food products, highlighting the agency's role in ensuring public safety and enforcing regulations.

💡Cold Storage facility

A cold storage facility is a type of warehouse used to store perishable items at low temperatures. The script mentions an illegal cold storage facility in Bulacan that was raided by the NBI. This facility was storing various frozen goods without proper permits, which poses health risks due to the potential for unregulated and unsafe food storage practices.

💡Exotic food products

Exotic food products are items that are not native to a particular region and are often considered unusual or rare. The video discusses the illegal storage of such products, which may include meats and seafoods that could carry diseases like bird flu. These products are a significant concern for health authorities due to the potential for disease transmission.

💡Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, and sheep. The script mentions the potential for this disease to reach the Philippines through imported beef products, underscoring the importance of strict import controls to prevent the spread of livestock diseases.

💡Tax evasion

Tax evasion occurs when an individual or business intentionally avoids paying required taxes. The video discusses how the illegal cold storage facility operators were not paying the correct taxes, resulting in a loss of revenue for the government. This is a serious economic crime that undermines public services funded by tax revenue.

💡Agricultural smuggling

Agricultural smuggling involves the illegal importation of agricultural products, often to avoid taxes or regulations. The video mentions the arrest of individuals involved in agricultural smuggling, which is a significant issue because it can introduce diseases and pests that threaten local agriculture and food security.

💡Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

The Suggested Retail Price is the price at which retailers are recommended to sell a product. The video discusses how the Department of Trade and Industry is inspecting prices to ensure that they adhere to the SRP, particularly for staple goods. This is important for maintaining price stability and preventing price gouging.

💡Price control

Price control refers to the government's regulation of the prices of goods and services to prevent inflation or to ensure affordability. The video mentions the trade department's efforts to control prices, especially during the holiday season, to protect consumers from excessive price increases.

💡African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs and can be deadly. The script discusses measures to prevent the spread of this disease into Metro Manila through the control of pig movements. This is critical for protecting the local pig industry and preventing economic losses.

💡Budget shopping

Budget shopping involves planning and strategizing purchases to stay within a financial budget. The video mentions a consumer preparing a budget for holiday shopping, which is a common practice to manage expenses during times of increased spending, such as the holiday season.

Highlights

The trade department aims to control prices until Christmas despite requests for price increases from the NBI.

The NBI has been investigating facilities without proper permits, where millions of pesos worth of frozen and exotic food products are stored.

A cold storage facility in Bulacan was found operating without a permit and was storing various frozen goods.

The NBI discovered various frozen meats, including beef, chicken, and exotic foods that did not pass proper health inspections.

There is a risk of these products carrying diseases such as bird flu, which can be transmitted to humans.

Beef products may carry Foot and Mouth Disease, and the value of the seized goods is in the millions of pesos.

The storage facility was found not to have paid the correct taxes, resulting in a loss of revenue for the government.

The NBI intercepted communications offering these products to intended clients through secret channels.

Two Filipinos and a Chinese national were arrested and face charges of agricultural smuggling.

If found guilty, they could face penalties including imprisonment and fines.

The Department of Trade and Industry is conducting inspections to ensure suggested retail prices are followed.

Some products are found to be cheaper than the suggested retail price, even with manufacturers requesting price increases.

The DTI is uncertain how long the current prices will last without increases.

Consumers are advised to be cautious and budget wisely for holiday shopping.

Valenzuela City LGU is working to maintain tight borders to prevent the spread of African swine fever into Metro Manila.

The geographical location of Valenzuela makes it a transit point for major trucks, increasing the risk of disease spread.

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