DTI-NegOcc monitors supply, price of basic goods amid state of calamity
by Erwin P. Nicavera
THE Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental and Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) continue to conduct special monitoring of supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in Kabankalan City.
DTI-Negros Occidental, in a statement, said the measure is in line with the agency’s mandate of ensuring stable supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in calamity and disaster affected areas.
Kabankalan City is one of the areas in the southern portion of Negros Occidental hardly-hit by the recent onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
A price freeze is already taking effect in the province following the declaration of state of calamity by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson last week.
For the DTI, aside from basic and prime goods, the monitoring also covers hardware stores, water refilling stations and sellers of generator sets.
The demand for these products and services also increased due to power outages, the agency said.
“With the Executive Order No. 21-59 Series of 2021 issued by the governor declaring the province under a state of calamity, automatic price control or price freeze for the concerned establishments shall be observed,” the agency said.
The current prices of the products should be the same as before the typhoon happened, it added.
DTI-Negros Occidental said that establishments violating the price freeze could face administrative or criminal case with a penalty and imprisonment.
“We continue to appeal to all business owners to avoid illegal price manipulation such as hoarding, profiteering and cartel,” it said, adding that the public may report similar illegal activities to the DTI or any Negosyo Centers nearest them.*
