GOV to Businessmen: Follow DTI price freeze order

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III is appealing to businessmen to heed the price freeze order of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in areas affected by the typhoon.

Davide made the appeal following a report that 24 retailers have been served notice by DTI for violating the price freeze imposed in Central Visayas, which include the calamity stricken area of Batanyan Island.

“Ang atong hangyo sa mga negosyante tungod lagi sa kalamidad nga unta dili nila patas-an kaayo ilang presyo, kanang ma-afford pud,” Davide said.

Davide said it is understandable that businessmen also have to recover losses after the typhoon but they should also consider the plight of the consumers who are suffering from the devastation caused by the typhoon.

“Hopefully ang ato mga businessmen will heed the price freeze nga gimando sa DTI (Hopefully our businessmen will heed the DTI’s order for a price freeze),” he added.

DTI Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro earlier said the department found some retailers violating the price freeze during their monitoring of 51 establishments, which covered 40 retailers and 11 hardware stores, in the towns of Bantayan Island last week.

Navarro related that “these violators have already undergone due process and they have committed to follow the price freeze.” 

In a statement released to media, Navarro clarified that the price freeze covers only basic goods and does not include construction materials.

Under the Price Act, the basic necessities assigned to the DTI include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, salt.

Other basic necessities assigned to the Department of Agriculture include rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is also responsible for firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) for drugs classified as essential by DOH. — (FREEMAN)