Prices stable, supply of goods adequate in Bohol and Cebu – DTI

MANILA, Philippines - Prices of basic commodities are stable, while the supply of goods is seen to be adequate in the earthquake-hit provinces of Bohol and Cebu, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

DTI Central Visayas regional director Asteria Caberte said in a statement the regional office has sent teams to municipalities in Bohol and Cebu to ensure that the price and supply of goods are stable.

This, as both provinces have been declared under a state of calamity and have imposed an automatic price freeze.

Caberte said that based on their monitoring, the price and supply of goods in both provinces remain stable.

Some stores are closed however, due to damage to some buildings caused by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake which hit the provinces on Tuesday.

“The municipalities of Sagbayan, Antiquera, and Maribooc in Bohol have no open establishments because of the sustained damage of buildings. Major establishments in Tagbilaran City remain closed,” Caberte said.

With a price freeze in place in Bohol and Cebu, the DTI has issued a list of prevailing prices of basic commodities in both provinces to serve as guide to consumers.

The price guide showed that the prevailing price for 155 grams of canned sardines in supermarkets ranges from P11.85 to P13.75 in Bohol, and between P12.50 to P13.75 in Cebu.

The prevailing price for 300 milliliter (ml) can of sweetened condensed milk in supermarkets is from P49.60 to P61 in Bohol, and P47.45 to P58.20 in Cebu.

For a 370 ml can of evaporated filled milk, the selling price starts at P35.80 to P48.55 in Bohol’s supermarkets, and P34.05 to P46.25 in Cebu’s supermarkets.

As for a 150-gram pack of powdered milk, supermarkets in Bohol are selling the product from P41.85 to P50.20, while supermarkets in Cebu are selling it from P43.90 to P50.20.

The prevailing price for a 25-gram pack of coffee in Bohol’s supermarkets ranges from P16.45 to P19.95, while the selling price starts at P16.45 to P19.45 in supermarkets in Cebu.

For a pack of 380 grams of detergent soap, the prevailing price is at P44 in both provinces.