Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Bill No.us4
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DLAJ!RE
Introduced by Hon. Alan 1  8. Ecleo
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the policy of the State to ensure the availability of basic necessities
and   prime  commodities  at  reasonable   prices  at  all  times  without  denying
legitimate business a fair return on investment. Considering the significant and
catastrophic impact of natural disasters,  it has  been a  long-standing  effort on
the part of the government to solidify the way our country deals with calamities
and  emergencies  including  price  monitoring  of  basic  necessities  and  prime
commodities.
As  demands  increase,  prices  of  construction  materials  consequently
surge during disasters which unnecessarily exacerbates the trauma and stress
of the community. Those who survived could not even begin the repairs to their
dwellings  as  they  could  not  find  affordable  materials  for  construction.  While
Republic  Act   No.   7581   as   amended   or  the   Price  Act  has  established   a
mechanism that protects consumers by providing a list of basic necessities and
prime commodities, the changes in time warrants its expansion.
Hence,   the   inclusion   of  construction   materials   in   the   list   of  basic
necessities and prime commodities is hereby proposed to ensure effective and
sufficient protection to the consumers against unfair practices such as  undue
price  increases,  hoarding,  profiteering,  and  cartel  with  respect to the  supply,
distribution,  marketing,  and  predatory  pricing  of goods  during  calamities  and
emergencies and to further aid in the country's recovery and rebuilding process.
In  view of the  foregoing,  immediate  approval  of this  bill  is  immediately
sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.      1G464
Introduced by Hon. ALAN  1  8. ECLEO
AN   ACT  AMENDING   CERTAIN   PROVISIONS   OF   REPUBLIC  ACT   NO.
10623,   BY   INCLUDING   SELECTED   CONSTRUCTION   MATERIALS   TO
BASIC   NECESSITIES,   NAMELY:   GI   SHEETS,   CONSTRUCTION   NAILS,
STEEL BARS, HOLLOW BLOCKS, PLYWOOD, AND CEMENT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
Section  1.  Section  1  of Republic Act  No.10623,  otherwise  known as "An Act
Amending   Certain   Provisions  of  Republic  Act   No.   7581,   entitled,   "An  Act
Providing    Protection   to    Consumers    by   Stabilizing   the    Prices   of   Basic
Necessities  and  Prime  Commodities  and  by  Prescribing  Measures  Against
Undue Price Increases During Emergency Situations and Like Occasions" And
For Other Purposes," is hereby amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3(1 ).  Definition of Terms. -For Purposes of this Act, the term:
"(1)  `Basic  necessities'  are  goods  vital  to  the  needs  of consumers for
their sustenance  and  existence  in  times  of any of the  cases  provided  under
Section 6 or 7 of this Act such as, but not limited to, rice, corn, root crops, bread;
fresh,  dried  or canned  fish  and  other  marine  products;  fresh  pork,  beef and
poultry  meat;  fresh  eggs;  potable  water  in  bottles  and  containers;  fresh  and
processed   milk;   fresh   vegetables   and   fruits;   locally   manufactured   instant
noodles; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap and detergents; firewood;
charcoal;  household  liquefied  petroleum  gas  (LPG)  and  kerosene;  candles;
drugs   classified   as   essential   by   the   Department   of   Health;   Gl   sheets,
construction nails, steel bars,  hollow blocks,  plywood, cement; and such other
goods as may be included under Section 4 of this Act;
SEC. 2. Section 3(8) of Republic Act No.  10623 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Section 3(8).  Definition of Terms -
"(8) `Prime Commodities' are goods not considered as basic necessities
but  are  essential  to  consumers  in  times  of any of the  cases  provided  under


Section 7 of this Act such as, but not limited to, flour; dried, processed or canned
pork,  beef and  poultry meat;  dairy products  not falling  under basic necessities;
onions,  garlic,  vinegar,  patis,  soy  sauce;  toilet  soap;  fertilizer,  pesticides  and
herbicides;  poultry,  livestock and  fishery feeds and veterinary  products;  paper;
school   supplies;   nipa   shingles;   sawali;   clinker;   plyboard;   batteries;   electrical
supplies;  light  bulbs;  steel  wire;  all  drugs  not  classified  as  essential  drugs  by
the  Department  of  Health  and  such  other  goods  as  may  be  included  under
Section 4 of this Act."
SEC. 3. Repea//.ng C/ause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order,  letter of instruction,  administrative order,  rule or regulation  contrary to or
inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act  is   hereby   repealed,   modified   or
amended  accordingly.
SEC.   4.   Effect/.v/.fy.   This   Act   shall   take   effect  fifteen   (15)   days   after   its
publication   in  the  Official  Gazette  or  in  any  two  (2)  newspapers  of  general
circulation  in  the  Philippines.
Approved,