Traders report shortage in noodles, sardines

MANILA, Philippines - There is a slight shortage of noodles, biscuits and sardines in groceries across the metropolis as people continue to buy these items in bulk, a suppliers’ group said yesterday.

In addition to the increase in buying activities, another problem of groceries is the inability of suppliers to deliver goods as a result of the devastation brought by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

“Deliveries by suppliers have not normalized but due to heightened buying by donors (for flood victims), stores are experiencing slight shortness in supply on prime commodities,” Philippine Amalgamated Supermarket Association Inc. (PAGASA) president Stephen Cua told The STAR in a telephone interview.

He said there were some deliveries last Wednesday but majority of their suppliers are still unable to deliver their goods because the flood damaged their trucks.

In addition to being unable to replenish the supplies, Cua said stocks were also damaged by the storm last weekend.

Even if there is bulk buying, Cua said it is a good thing because most people who buy a lot of noodles, biscuits and sardines buy it to donate to the victims of the tropical storm. “It is actually very heartwarming,” he said.

Cua said aside from the three factors, people usually buy food that does not need to be cooked because there are still some victims who are in evacuation areas and are unable to cook.

In spite of the shortage, Cua said there have been no price increases in PAGASA member supermarkets. He said they are following the price control imposed by the government last Monday, though potential problem areas are mini marts, public market stalls and sari-sari stores.

The government has declared a price ceiling on all basic commodities such as rice, canned goods, noodles, milk and other basic commodities as a result of the declaration of the state of calamity.

Price ceiling means sellers are not allowed to increase their price for 60 days or until the state of emergency is raised.

However, this does not include the price of other goods like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and construction materials. Construction materials are classified as prime commodities while LPG prices are deregulated.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said he will send a request to President Arroyo to include prime commodities in the price ceiling. In order to avoid this problem, he said they are looking at ways to include the prices of prime commodities and LPG in the list of goods that are automatically controlled in times of emergency.

Price control violators face raps

Favila said the Department of Trade and Industry will file charges against 18 establishments caught violating the price control imposed by the government, mostly for overpricing and violation of the price tag law.

He said these alleged violators “face stiff sanctions, which include an administrative fine of not more than P1 million and imprisonment of not more than 10 years.”

Favila also ordered that a command center be set up to serve as the focal point for information on prices and supplies, particularly in areas declared under a state of calamity.

The command center may also facilitate deliveries to retail outlets and assist in verifying with suppliers or manufacturers the status of deliveries.

Favila reminded business operators that help, not exploitation, is desperately needed during hard times.

He also acknowledged the efforts of various auto repair shops and service centers for “offering discount rates by as much as 50 percent on labor and by five to 20 percent on parts.”

No drug price hikes

There will be no price increase for medicines, given the current emergency situation caused by Ondoy, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said.

“We assure the public that our member manufacturers and distributors have maintained the prices of their products, especially during this time of calamity,” PHAP president Oscar Aragon said.

He also called on drug retail outlets and hospital pharmacies not to increase prices of essential medicines, particularly those that are most needed by flood victims.

PHAP executive director Reiner Gloor said they have mobilized the PHAPCares Foundation in response to a request by the Department of Health for donations of medicines such as antibiotics, anti-diarrheals, anti-tetanus and other priority vaccines, anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetics, intravenous fluids and multivitamins.