DTI orders price freeze in 7 calamity areas

MANILA, Philippines - A price freeze has been imposed in seven areas placed under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Ruby.

An update issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday showed that a state of calamity was declared in Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Catanduanes, Pilar in Capiz, Leyte and Samar.

In a text message, Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba said a price freeze is automatically imposed in areas placed under a state of calamity.

“By law, for 60 days,” he said.

The price freeze covers basic necessities or goods vital to the needs of consumers for their sustenance and existence, including canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread and salt.

Violators of the price freeze will be summoned by the DTI and may be fined up to P1 million or imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years.

The DTI has intensified its price monitoring efforts to ensure that prices and supply of goods remain stable as Ruby slams the country, as ordered by President Aquino during the weekend.

Enough supply

Based on reports of the DTI’s teams, Dimagiba said supermarkets in Metro Manila have enough supply and stable prices.

Prices and supply of goods are also normal in Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro as well as in Northern Samar.

Prices remain stable but only a few stores opened in Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte.

Dimagiba said rolling cargo vessels where there are no storm signals would be allowed to sail to be able to deliver supplies to provinces.

Manufacturers and distributors in affected areas are also asked to replenish goods to ensure enough supply.

The DTI will continue to monitor the supply and prices of basic necessities.

Diskwento Caravans where basic goods will be sold at a discount of 10 percent to 50 percent will also be conducted in areas hit by the typhoon.

No price increase

Prices of major agricultural commodities in Metro Manila are not expected to increase despite the onslaught of Ruby, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said most rice farmers were able to harvest maturing crops before the typhoon made landfall.

“Many of them planted early in anticipation of a dry spell (in the last quarter of the year). So we do not see any adverse effects on palay production,” he said during a briefing at the DA central office in Quezon City.

The DA has also pre-positioned seeds for emergency replanting in affected areas. A total of 78,479 50-kilogram bags of rice seeds, 17,854 50-kilogram bags of corn and 3,337 kilograms of seeds for high value crops are up for distribution to affected regions.

Relocate livestock

The DA ordered regional offices to facilitate the relocation of livestock and other farm animals before the typhoon landfall to minimize the number of animal casualties.

As of Dec. 7, Ruby has damaged an estimated P385.5 million worth of assets in the crops and livestock sub sectors. This covers damage to rice, corn, high value crops and livestock.

Damage inflicted to the fisheries sector amounted to P112.75 million covering damage inflicted on seaweed farms and mangrove areas in Region 5 and Region 8.

Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez said they are ready to deploy 26 30-footer vessels for government disaster response needs.

No need to import rice

The National Food Authority (NFA) sees no immediate need to import rice for buffer stocking or typhoon relief operations.

Food security chief Francis Pangilinan said existing supply is sufficient for relief operations and there is no need to exercise the standby authority granted by the NFA Council for the importation of 500,000 metric tons (MT) for this year.

For Ruby relief operations, the NFA has positioned 71,848 50-kilogram bags of rice for distribution to local government units in Regions IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, National Capital Region, Caraga and Region XI.

To prevent mishaps in the distribution of NFA rice in affected areas, the agency has coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces for the formation of composite teams that would keep peace and order in distribution sites. - With Czeriza Valencia