60-day price freeze set

MANILA, Philippines — To prevent people from taking undue advantage of others during the public health emergency, the government has imposed a nationwide price freeze on essential goods for 60 days.

“Walang gulangan,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said yesterday as he explained that the move was being undertaken “to ensure that no one takes advantage of anyone.”

Under a joint memorandum issued by the trade, agriculture and health departments on Wednesday night, a price freeze on basic commodities would be implemented until May 15 as the country, now under a state of calamity, grapples with the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 contagion.

Under Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, prices of basic goods in an area under a state of calamity is automatically frozen at prevailing prices.

With a price freeze in effect, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said prices of goods in the market should not increase from current levels.

Lopez, however, said implementing agencies may recommend price ceilings on basic goods at a level other than the prevailing price.

The price freeze also applies to online sellers, he said.

Basic goods include canned fish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt.

Suggested retail prices (SRP) will remain for the following items: pork (P190 per kilo), chicken (P130 per kilo), brown sugar (P45 per kilo), refined sugar (P50 per kilo), milk fish (P162 per kilo), tilapia (P120 per kilo), imported galunggong (P130 per kilo), imported garlic (P70 per kilo), local garlic (P120 per kilo) and red onion (P95 per kilo).

Medicine and essential medical supplies covered by the price freeze include ethyl alcohol, particulate respirator, face masks, sterile gloves, nebulizer and oxygen cannula.

Hefty fines, penalties

Violators will be fined P5,000 up to P2 million and may be imprisoned for up to 15 years, Lopez said.

He said government agencies would deploy teams to ensure that the price caps are strictly enforced.

Lopez said composite teams would be formed to prevent and control overpricing, profiteering, hoarding and cartels.

He asked the public to report violators to hotline 1-384.

 Purchasing limit set

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is setting a limit on the quantity of goods, including alcohol, toilet paper and face masks consumers can purchase per transaction to prevent hoarding and panic buying.

The DTI also urged food and medical supply manufacturers whose stocks are good for one month to temporarily stop their operations to minimize the number of people going out of their homes.

While food and medical supplies producers are exempted from quarantine, those who have finished goods that are good for one month can implement a “manufacturing holiday” so workers can stay at home.

The agency also increased the SRP for face masks amid higher cost from manufacturers. Lopez said the SRP for surgical mask is at P28 from P12.

He said the increase was due to “higher cost of mask from source.”

For 70 percent solution antiseptic or disinfectant alcohol, hand sanitizer or disinfecting liquid, the limit is two pieces regardless of volume or size.

For bath soap, the DTI said the purchase is capped at five bars if individually sold and one pack if sold as a bundle.

Consumers are allowed to buy a maximum of 10 pieces of toilet paper if sold per roll, and one pack if sold as a bundle.

For N88 (surgical) or N95 (industrial) face masks, the purchase limit is five.

As for locally produced instant noodles such as mami or pancit canton, the maximum number consumers can buy is five pieces per brand.

The DTI said consumers can buy up to five cans of regular size sardines and a maximum of three cans for the big size ones.

For canned milk, consumers are allowed to purchase up to five small cans per brand and two cans per brand (other than the small).

For powdered milk or instant coffee in sachet, the limit is at two bundles per brand.

As for mineral water, consumers can buy up to 10 small bottles for any brand, up to eight bottles if medium size, up to five bottles if large size and up to two bottles if extra large.

The DTI allows consumers to buy up to four packs of half loaf bread and a maximum of two packs whole loaf bread.

The agency is setting a cap on the purchase per transaction to ensure the availability of products.

The DTI has issued guidelines to ensure smooth and unimpeded movement of cargo as well as transit of employees of business establishments allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine period in Luzon.

COVID-19 hotlines

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has partnered with Globe Telecom Inc. to set up COVID-19 hotlines.

In partnership with the Ayala-led telco, the DOTr launched its COVID-19 hotlines in a bid to immediately answer inquiries involving road transportation of health workers in Metro Manila as well as to the operations of airports and seaports.

Calls will be accommodated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Text messaging will be answered around-the-clock, the DOTr said.

COVID-19 hotlines for road concerns are (02) 7980-2387 and (02) 7980-2390 and (0917) 876-8535 and (0917) 876-8523 for mobile.

For the aviation sector, the hotlines are (02) 7980-2391 and (02) 7980-2392 and (0917) 876-8573 and (0917) 802-2224 for mobile.

Hotlines for maritime-related inquiries are (02) 7980-2394 and (0917) 876-8594.

The Department of Health also launched COVID-19 emergency hotlines 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843) and 1555 in partnership with PLDT and Smart.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged the public to use COVID-19 hotlines responsibly as the country faces a public health emergency.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año called on the public to use COVID-19 hotline numbers only for legitimate medical, health and emergency purposes. – With Richmond Mercurio, Romina Cabrera

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