Price freeze mulled in storm-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines – After Cebu had been placed under state of calamity due to typhoon Ruby, the government is now mulling to declare price freeze in the province possibly on Thursday.

The Department of Trade and Industry provincial office said it is evaluating the raw data of prevailing price points in markets in southern and northern Cebu. Southern Cebu was hit by typhoon Queenie only a few weeks ago and the north was affected by typhoon Ruby last weekend.

DTI Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro said yesterday they are first analyzing the price points before declaring price control in the whole province which was struck by two disasters.

Navarro explained it is necessary to evaluate the obtained data because prevailing costs of basic goods in different Cebu areas differ from one another.

The director also urged local traders not to take advantage of the disaster by increasing prices of essential goods.

Zaide Bation, consumer welfare chief, said they already have the price data from the disaster-hit municipalities. Price control is imposed on canned goods, milk, coffee, detergent products, etc.

The agency has already sent six price monitoring teams to check current prices in the market.

Navarro also assured local markets have stable  supply of basic goods as transportation was not heavily affected by the calamity.

South towns which will be covered by the 60-day price freeze include Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Ronda and Dumanjug, initial data from DTI showed.

Retailers who violate the price control will be fined of up to P1 million or imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Bation said they would have “diskwento” caravans in north towns on Dec. 13 and 14 to sell goods to affected residents at discount prices.