Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _7694

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO-

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Price Act is a law which provides protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of
basic necessities and prime commodities and by prescribing measures against undue price
increases during emergency situations, calamity and other similar situation.

‘The purpose of the Bill is to include other goods as to the definition of basic necessities
in order to address the growing demand for other products that are not covered under the existing
Price Act.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the Bill is earnestly sou;

“KUYA” JOSE’ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

7694

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
PROVIDING PROTECTION TO CONSUMERS BY EXPANDING THE DEFINITION
OF BASIC NECESISTIES AND PRIME COMMODITIES, AMENDING, FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 7581, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PRICE ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Expanded Basic Necessities
and Prime Commodities Act of 2017".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is the policy of the State to protect and promote
welfare of the consumers by defining and enumerating what are basic necessities and prime
Commodities, ensuring their availability and price reasonability at all times, especially during
periods of Calamity and emergencies.

SECTION 3. Newly Defined Basic and Prime Commodities. - Section 3 (1) of Republic
Act No. 7581, otherwise known as the 'Price Act’ is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:

(1) Basic necessities’ include rice; corn; bread; fresh, dried and canned fish and
other marine products; fresh pork, beef and poultry meal; fresh eggs; fresh and processed
milk; fresh vegetables; root crops, POTABLE WATER IN CONTAINERS; coffee;
sugar, NOODLES; cooking oil; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles;
KEROSENE AND LOUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS, WATER CONTAINERS,
WATERPROOFED CANVASS OR "TRAPAL", drugs classified as essential by the
Department of Health, AND SUCH OTHER GOODS AS MAYBE INCLUDED
UNDER SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT."
XXX

(8) “Prime commodities’ include fresh fruits; flour, dried, processed and OR
canned pork; beef and poultry meat; dairy products not falling under basic necessities;
noodles; onions, garlic, vinegar, patis, soy sauce; toilet soap; fertilizer; pesticides;
herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds; veterinary products for poultry, swine and
cattle; paper; school supplies; nipa shingles; sawali; cement; clinker; GI sheets; hollow
blocks; plywood; ply-board; construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs;
steel wire; and all drugs classified as essential drugs by the Department of Health, AND
SUCH OTHER GOODS AS MAYBE INCLUDED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THIS
ACT.

SECTION 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7581 is hereby amended to read as follows:


"SECTION 4. Inclusion or Exclusion from the Coverage of this Act. - Upon petition of
the concerned parties OR BY MOTU PROPIO ACTION OF THE CONCERNED AGENCY OF
THE PRICE COORDINATING COUNCIL and after public hearing, the implementing agency,
with the approval of the President, MAY INCLUDE IN THE DEFINITION OF BASIC
NECESSITIES OR OF PRIME COMMODITIES TYPES AND BRANDS OF GOODS OR may
exclude from the coverage of this Act, types or brands of the goods included in the definition of
basic necessities and prime commodities, which may be deemed as non-essential goods or luxury
goods: Provided, that, any type or brand excluded may be reinstated by the implementing agency
during occasions of acute shortage in the supply of the basic necessity or prime commodity to
which the excluded type or brand used to belong OR IN TIMES OF AN OF THE CASES
PROVIDED INSECTION 6 OR 7 OF THIS ACT."

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Trade and
Industry, in consultation with the members of the Price Coordinating Council and stakeholders,
shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act
within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act, or any part thereof, is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
portions.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
proclamation, rules, regulations, issuances and enactments of parts thereof inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its complete
publication in the Official Gazette-of in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines, whichever comes easlér.