The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has intensified its monitoring of prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, following Tropical Storm “Paeng”.
President Ferdinand Marcos, who placed the region under a state of calamity for six months on Wednesday, November 2, said it will effectively ensure control of the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.
DTI R6 assures the consuming public that the agency is coordinating with other national government agencies and retailers to ensure that the transportation or delivery of basic necessities is not hampered in areas placed under state of calamity, DTI R6 OIC-Regional Director Ermelinda Pollentes said in a press statement Thursday, November 3.
DTI Region 6 also reminds businesses and traders to comply with the price freeze on basic necessities in areas under state of calamity, the statement said.
When a state of calamity is declared in a region, prices for basic necessities (BN) are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days in accordance with Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, as amended.
DTI monitoring teams were already deployed to check the supermarkets and grocery stores to ensure the availability of supply and stability of prices.
DTI R6 has also identified initiatives to cushion the impact of the typhoon to affected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by linking them into financing institutions and suppliers of raw materials for a sustainable livelihood, the statement said.*