Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman on Thursday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor the prices of electric fans and other heat-reducing agents that are on high demand during summer.
Roman issued the call made appeal amid complaints by consumers that prices of regular stand fans and wall fans substantially increased, thus making these items unaffordable for budget buyers.
Online retail shops for some electronics brands show that the cheapest wall fan now costs P1,500, while an industrial stand fan costs P2,000.
This is far from the prices before the summer season, where a basic wall fan can still be bought for as low as P1,300, while the industrial stand fan can be bought for around P1,450.
“Ang electric fan dapat ang pinakamurang pamatid init na abot kaya kahit ng mga pamilyang Pinoy na salat sa yaman. Hindi dapat mabutas ang kanilang mga bulsa para lang makaramdam ng kaginhawaan ngayong panahon ng tag-init.” said Roman, chair of the House committee on women’s rights and gender equality.
Roman stressed the DTI should be on the lookout on the prices of these products.
Roman suggested that concerned agencies should have a discussion with the electronic brands about the observed price hikes of these appliances.
“The extreme heat in the country should not be ignored, especially after some students in Occidental Mindoro collapsed due to heat stroke, and a vendor in Isabela died because of the same condition,” Roman stated.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned that the weather may become even hotter in May, with heat indexes reaching over 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the Philippines.
