BY RICHA NORIEGA
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminded all business establishments Monday to comply with the price freeze on basic necessities after President Duterte declared a state of calamity in Luzon.
“The DTI is closely coordinating with the manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities to ensure the availability and the continuous replenishment of these goods especially in the heavily affected areas,” DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said in a statement.
The department warned business establishments that those found violating the price freeze will face the penalty of imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine from P5,000 to P1 million.
The DTI said it is tasked to monitor the prices of basic goods such as canned fish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent, and salt.
Meanwhile, the prices of goods such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh, dried, and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, and fresh fruits fall under the purview of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the listed essential drugs and medical supplies or essentials under the Department of Health (DoH).
The prices of household cooking gas and kerosene are monitored by the Department of Energy (DoE), however, their prices are frozen for only 15 days, it added.
The department advised the public to check on the complete list of price freeze bulletins issued by the DTI provincial offices or visit its website through https://www.dti.gov.ph/konsyumer/e-presyo/.
The DTI also urged consumers to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of basic necessities that are not observing the automatic price control via One-DTI (1-384) hotline or email [email protected]. Duterte placed the entire Luzon under a state of calamity to facilitate the swift relief and rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-hit communities.
