Baguio: The Department of Information and Communications Technology in Cordillera Administrative Region (DICT-CAR) has launched an online price monitoring and reporting system. This initiative is part of efforts to combat profiteering amid rising fuel costs due to the Middle East conflict.

According to Philippines News Agency, DICT-CAR regional director Jimmicio Daoaten stated in a phone interview that the "monitoring platform has been deployed and is managed by the Management Information and Technology Division (MITD)" of the city government. The platform was developed by the DICT and presented to the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who approved its deployment.

The platform, accessible at https://presyo.baguio.gov.ph, serves as a community-based price watch portal. It allows consumers to upload and share observed prices of various commodities along with supporting details such as location, timestamp, and images. The site also offers features to track fuel prices, review public monitoring snapshots, and enhance timely price visibility through verified price submissions.

By 1 p.m. on Monday, 19 fuel stations, one business establishment, and five products had been tracked or reported on the site. This data-driven approach aids in timely monitoring, promotes marketplace transparency, and provides a reliable basis for informed decision-making by both consumers and regulators.

The DICT highlighted that the platform aggregates price observations to establish prevailing market prices for key goods, including fuel, groceries, fish, rice, meat, and other essential products. The built-in data analytics system can identify price variations and deviations across different businesses, enabling authorities to detect unusual or potentially excessive price increases.

Mayor Magalong emphasized that the tool aims to enhance transparency and enable quicker responses to potential overpricing in establishments.