Prices frozen in hard-hit areas

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo: Price freeze

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has implemented a price freeze in typhoon devastated areas even as it has mobilized eight to 15 truckloads of basic goods for its “Diskwento Caravans” this week in a move to stabilize the food supply in the calamity areas.

In a briefing on Monday, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said the DTI was targeting deliveries to Tacloban and Ormoc cities in Leyte of goods consisting of water, bread, noodles and sardines, which could be sold at highly discounted prices.

“We are looking at our own capacity to deliver and provide additional supplies of basic goods in certain areas… We may also conduct this caravan more than once,” Domingo said.

Domingo assured the people, however, that despite temporary disruptions in deliveries, there was an adequate supply of basic goods, even of sugar, amid the devastation in the Negros provinces.

The challenge, he said, was more of logistics, and not the adequacy of supply or the stability of prices.

The Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, led by its president, Edith A. de Leon, assured the public that her group had adequate inventories in their warehouses.

Covered goods

Domingo said that as provided for by Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, a price freeze should automatically be implemented following the declaration of a state of calamity in affected areas, particularly Cebu, Bohol, parts of Oriental Mindoro, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros Oriental and Ormoc and Tacloban in Leyte.

Goods covered by the price freeze include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, salt, rice, corn, cooking oil, eggs, pork/beef and poultry meat, milk, vegetables, root crops, sugar, firewood, charcoal and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health.

Violators of the price freeze may be liable for an administrative fine of up to P1 million and/or a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Steven T. Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association on Monday called for “calm, sobriety and order” to ensure the speedy recovery of the affected areas. He noted that some of their members had expressed fear about opening their stores due to the reported looting.

In a text message, Management Association of the Philippines president Melito S. Salazar Jr. said it was engaging its members to donate in their personal capacities to those affected by the supertyphoon.—Amy R. Remo