MARCH 30, 2014

NR # 3421

Solons seek setting up of emergency warehouses selling cheap goods in calamity areas
House members are seeking the setting up in calamity areas of emergency warehouses that will provide affected consumers access to basic necessities or prime commodities at discounted and tax-free prices. The proposal is embodied in House Bill 37 !" or the proposed #$mergency %arehouse &ct' principally authored by (ep. )ictoria *oel +,arty-list" &n %aray- and coauthored by (eps. *eil Benedict .onte/o +,arty-list" &n %aray- and 0osephine )eroni1ue 2acson-*oel +2one 3istrict" .alabon 4ity-. *oel said the proposal aims to ensure the constant flow and availability of basic goods in calamity-stricken areas and the protection of consumers from undue increase of prices and possible hoarding or price manipulations by traders during disasters. #This measure will set an important" notable and immediate post-disaster action by the government to alleviate the unfortunate conditions of calamity victims by providing the most necessary items for their subsistence"' said *oel" an assistant ma/ority leader. 5he noted that several days after super typhoon 6olanda ravaged the country" the people seriously affected by the disaster tremendously suffered from the shortage of food" clean water" medicines and other basic necessities for survival. #This bill aims to extend assistance to the victims or consumers affected by calamities or other emergency situations by ensuring their access to basic necessities or prime commodities during these times of misfortunes through the establishment of emergency warehouses. 7t also seeks to exempt the goods to be sold in emergency warehouses from value-added tax or other sales tax to reduce their prices"' said *oel. 5he said the setting up of emergency warehouses in calamity areas should be a priority initiative to provide immediate support for the affected communities. House Bill 37 ! provides that in the event of calamities and disasters" the 3epartment of Trade and 7ndustry +3T7- shall immediately set-up and deploy emergency warehouses in calamity areas to sell basic necessities or prime commodities to affected consumers at discounted and tax-free prices. The affected consumers may avail of the discounted and tax-free prices sub/ect to the limitations and conditions set by the 3T7" the bill provides.

The bill refers to an emergency warehouse as any structure or vehicle with protected enclosure for storage of large volume of goods and stocks and at the same time serves as an outlet in selling such goods and stocks. The measure provides that the 3T7 shall" in consultation with the *ational 3isaster (isk (eduction and .anagement 4ouncil +*3((.4-" determine the period of deployment of the emergency warehouse in a particular calamity area. &ll goods to be sold in emergency warehouses shall be exempt from the )&T and other sales taxes" the bill provides. +38- rbb