ROTA — Rep. Julie Ogo is calling on Gov. David M. Apatang to immediately issue a public notice reminding all businesses on Rota that price gouging during a declared emergency will not be tolerated, as the island continues to recover from Super Typhoon Bavi.
Ogo further urged the governor to implement a temporary price freeze on essential goods and services to protect families from unjustified price increases during the recovery, according to a statement released Saturday.
She also called on the Office of the Attorney General to immediately investigate complaints of price gouging and take appropriate enforcement action against any business found to be violating the law, including the imposition of all applicable fines and penalties.
“It is unacceptable that, during one of the most difficult times in our community’s history, anyone would seek to profit from the hardships of our people,” Ogo said. “Families who have lost homes, property, and livelihoods should not have to worry about paying inflated prices for food, water, fuel, building materials, or other essential necessities.”
Ogo also appealed to the business community to be part of the solution, saying Rota has always been a community that comes together in times of need. She asked every business owner to demonstrate fairness, compassion and integrity by keeping prices reasonable and supporting the island’s recovery.
“Our people deserve protection from exploitation during this emergency,” she said. “I stand with the people of Rota and will continue advocating for accountability, fairness, and every measure necessary to help our island recover stronger than before.”
