A lawmaker has urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to keep an eye on the prices of cooling appliances due to concerns that some stores may increase their prices to take advantage of the rising demand amid the summer season.
Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman emphasized that electric fans and air conditioning sets should be affordable for many households, especially with the rising heat index in several areas.
Roman expressed her worry that the prices of these appliances have already risen as the summer season progressed.
"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 the lawmaker.
She added that the affordability of cooling appliances should be ensured, as several cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke have been reported during this season.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has earlier announced that there is now an 80% chance of El Niño developing between June and August, an increase from the previous forecast of 55% last month.
