THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has advised retailers to sell rubbing alcohol at two bottles per customer only.
During the recent meeting of retailers at the DTI office, Senior Trade and Industry Development specialist chief Rommel Amihan said retailers told him that sanitizing products shelves went fast empty after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) alert was raised in the country.
Retailers are observing the policy but they have no control over household members and customers, he said.
Shortage of alcohol was also noted. Suppliers come in small deliveries at one to two boxes per market but the quantity depletes as it reaches the shelves, retailers told DTI in the meeting.
It was also found out that leading stores and supermarkets here sell alcohol below the price set by DTI.
The meeting also discussed illegal acts and price manipulation activities like hoarding, profiteering and cartel as well as the Automatic Price Control (APC) where prices of basic necessities are frozen in the event the president declares an area, among others, under a state of calamity and under an emergency.
For their part, the DTI is monitoring medical supplies and prices every other day while monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities is done regularly.
Aside from DTI employees, they have also asked the help of business counselors in every local government unit (LGU) of the province to help in monitoring activities, DTI Officer- In- Charge Provincial Chief Rachel Nafable said.
They are also collaborating with the province in re-activating or re-organizing the LGU’s Local Price Coordinating Council and cited the cities of San Carlos, Silay and Bago as active.
Amihan said DTI expects retailers to provide consumers with supply of goods which are in good quality and affordable, and to follow directives and comply with the APC Fair Trade laws.
On Mar. 17, President Duterte has placed the entire country under the state of calamity due to COVID-19 (with a report from PIA-6/PN)
