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MANILA – Price controls have taken effect in areas under a state of calamity, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo said an automatic price freeze took hold in the following areas: Caloocan, Malabon, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, and Valenzuela in Metro Manila; Bataan; Bulacan; Pampanga; Zambales; Laguna; and Culion, El Nido, and Linacapan in Palawan.
A state of calamity has been declared in the said areas due to widespread flooding caused by heavy rains. With a price control in place, prices must remain at prevailing levels until the state of calamity is lifted.
“We are working with the LGUs in monitoring the prices of goods to ensure that retailers do not violate price control," Domingo said, referring to the local government units concerned.
Under the Price Act, retailers who violate the price freeze shall be slapped with fines of between P1,000 and P1 million and their goods will be confiscated.
Domingo said prices remain stable, and supplies of basic and prime commodities adequate, except for vegetables and fish.
Because of inclement weather, vegetable deliveries were disrupted by flooded roads, while fishermen were unable to catch fish.
Canned sardines and instant noodles, meanwhile, are fast flying off the shelves of groceries and supermarkets because of bulk-buying for relief operations, Domingo said, but he maintained that there is no panic-buying among consumers.
He said the DTI will meet with manufacturers to put up a supply center, wherein goods for relief operations could be directly sourced.
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