Price freeze imposed in La Union

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A price freeze on basic commodities and select drugs has been imposed in La Union following the devastation of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

The provincial government activated its price coordinating council after declaring a state of calamity on July 30.

The price freeze will remain in effect until Sept. 28.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that based on their monitoring, retail prices and supply of basic commodities in all municipalities in the province as well as in the city of San Fernando are stable.

DTI officials conducted a Diskwento Caravan for school supplies and inspected weighing scales in public markets.

The Department of Health (DOH) tapped its electronic drug price monitoring system to capture, process, store and generate reports on drugs and medicines as well as inventories from pharmaceutical companies and drugstores.

Weekly monitoring of prices will be conducted by agencies tasked to implement the Price Act such as DTI for processed goods, DOH for essential drugs and Department of Agriculture for farm produce.