ILOILO City – Under the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581), prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days once a state of calamity is declared in an area.
This is what’s being observed now in storm-battered Western Visayas, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“We urge consumers to report distributors, retailers and manufacturers of any violation, hoarding or overpricing,” said DTI assistant regional director Felisa Judith Degala.
On Nov. 2, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed Region 6, regions IV-A, V and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under a state of calamity.
Degala said DTI-6 has mobilized teams to check supermarkets and grocery stores to ensure the availability of supply and stability of prices.
Basic products that fall under the DTI’s purview include bread, canned fish and other marine products, potable water in bottles and containers, processed milk, locally manufactured instant noodles, coffee, salt, laundry soaps, and candles.
Degala said DTI-6 has been monitoring prices and supplies of basic necessities and prime commodities since Oct. 29 following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng”.
Due to damaged bridges and roads, the delivery of goods is hampered, particularly from Iloilo City to affected areas in Miag-ao and San Joaquin towns in Iloilo province and 10 municipalities in adjacent Antique province.
“Though basic necessity and prime commodity prices are stable, the demand has significantly increased especially in Antique due to bulk buying by retailers and consumers, and by private organizations and local government units (LGUs) for relief operations,” said DTI-6 OIC-regional director Ermelinda Pollentes.
DTI-6 is also coordinating with retailers and distributors regarding the delivery of supplies to affected areas to ensure price and supply stability.
“We are in touch with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to address the challenges in the transport of goods,” said Pollentes.
OCD, for its part, has coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard for deliveries via sea vessels covering the southern portion of Antique.
Northern Panay and Roxas City retailers were also contacted by DTI to provide ample supply in the northern portion of the province.
DTI-6 warned businesses that violate the Price Act; there will be administrative and/or criminal charges.
The price freeze shall be automatically lifted on its end date unless sooner lifted by the President.
ANTIQUE TO RENT BARGE, TOO
Antique governor Rhodora J. Cadiao said the provincial government will rent a roll on-roll off (RORO) vessel to get dry goods and gasoline from Iloilo.
This was decided during a meeting with the Local Price Monitoring Council of the province together with the Department of Interior and Local Government and DTI.
The lady governor said the RORO vessel will transport for free the goods including gasoline or whatever businessmen will buy in Iloilo, but with the condition that they won’t increase the prices of goods sold to Antiqueños.
Cadiao noted that stocks of sardines and noodles are running low because these have been procured by LGUs for disaster relief.
The province has around P8 million under its Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the RORO plan that may be carried out this beginning this weekend.
Cadiao also clarified that there is no shortage of fuel supply yet in the province. They only resorted to temporary rationing as a precautionary measure.
“Don’t panic, we are on top of the situation. Everybody is working hard para matagaan sang kahilwayan ang aton pangabuhi kag matugroan sang serbisyo ang mga naapektuhan sang bagyo,” the governor stressed./PN
