BACOLOD City – No price increases have been observed in basic commodities here following the onset of three recent typhoons.
This was confirmed by members of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) together with various city offices, after they conducted an initial joint monitoring inspection on November 28.
The LPCC team inspected several grocery stores, including one along Hilado Street, as well as the Burgos Public Market and Central Market, to ensure compliance with the Automatic Price Control (APC) after the city was placed under a state of calamity.
Engiemar Tupas, Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI–Negros Occidental, said daily monitoring is part of the agency’s measures to ensure there are no price increases on basic commodities during the APC implementation.
During the inspection, the monitoring team checked basic necessities such as bottled water, sardines, noodles, coffee, and other DTI-regulated products, and found no price adjustments.
Inspections at Burgos Public Market and Central Market likewise showed compliance with the citywide price freeze.
Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, areas declared under a state of calamity are automatically placed under a price freeze for up to 60 days unless lifted earlier by the President.
The DTI assured that monitoring and inspection activities will continue in other areas under its jurisdiction in Negros Occidental to ensure sustained compliance.
The agency also reminded business owners to strictly observe the price freeze and urged consumers to report violations to the DTI–Negros Occidental Provincial Office at (034) 441-3644.
When asked about the sudden spike in prices of some agricultural products such as onions, chili pepper, and vegetables, Tupas clarified that these items fall under the monitoring of the Department of Agriculture.
Reports show that prices of chili pepper have surged to around P500 per kilo from below P200 per kilo earlier, while onion prices have also risen to more than P300 per kilo./PN
