DTI: Price Freeze In Calamity Stricken Areas Are Automatic

Written by Marc Adrian

The Secretary of the Department Trade and Industry (DTI), Ramon Lopez announced on Tuesday that price freeze is implemented automatically in areas under a state of calamity. Among the basic commodities covered by the price freeze are canned goods, instant noodles, coffee, and milk.

In an interview, the DTI Secretary said:

“Unang-una, the Typhoon Quinta last week, so may mga state of calamity, so automatic price freeze doon sa mga calamity areas—Albay, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque. Tapos, yesterday, nag-declare na rin ang Cavite , o price freeze na rin tayo diyan,”

According to Lopez, violators will face fines of up to ₱ 2 million pesos, and that even without a price freeze, the prices can still be controlled by enforcing the suggested retail price of the concerned commodities. It’s also worth noting that the prices in the market should remain unchanged because the flow of goods resumed immediately after the typhoon ravaged some parts of the country. 

 

[Source]