Northern Mindanao execs ask Aquino to extend price freeze in disaster-hit areas

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Northern Mindanao officials have asked President Benigno Aquino III to impose a price ceiling on basic and prime commodities sold in the region as families severely affected by floods spawned by storm Sendong struggle to recover their livelihood.

During Friday’s meeting of the Regional Development Council here — which was attended by the mayors and other officials of this city and Iligan City, areas severely affected by the floods — a resolution to this effect was passed.

A formal recommendation will also be undertaken by the region’s Local Price Monitoring Council headed by the mayors of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

A price ceiling is the fixing of a maximum amount of selling price for specified commodities, according to Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, who chairs the RDC, said.

On December 20, Aquino ordered a freeze on prices of commodities in the region to help families affected by the floods cope with the disaster.

Linda Boniao, acting director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao, said the 60-day price freeze on basic and prime commodities ended on Monday (February 20).

But she admitted that things had not normalized after the 60-day price freeze based on the Price Act.

“We are not yet done with the effects of Sendong,” Boniao said.

She said the DTI had expected prices to increase because of high demand, especially for purified water and construction materials.

Boniao said the President might not be able to extend the price freeze without the help of the National Price Council.

The 60-day price freeze is prescribed by law and if it expires, only the NPC can decide on extending it, according to Boniao.