ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6 has urged the public to report business establishments violating the prize freeze imposed in 31 areas across the region in response to the El Niño phenomenon and pertussis outbreak.
“We are encouraging consumers and media partners to help us ensure that the public are aware of the price freeze as well as the business establishments. So inform us of any violation so that we can also properly address it,” said Rachel Nufable, officer-in-charge regional director of DTI-6.
In a press conference yesterday, Nufable said the public should be vigilant in checking the prices of basic necessities and report any incompliant establishments to the nearest DTI office.
These basic goods include canned fish, processed milk, coffee, detergent, laundry soap, bread, instant noodles, salt, bottled water, and candles.
“We have informed already the business establishments about the price freeze. We have provided them with copies of the different basic commodities within DTI jurisdiction and we are doing regular monitoring and ensuring that they follow the price freeze we set,” she said.
Under the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581), prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing rates for 60 days when an area is under a state of calamity.
In Western Visayas, 31 local government units (LGUs) have declared a state of calamity between March 13 and May 1, with 30 due to El Niño and one due to a pertussis outbreak.
According to DTI-6, following the declaration of a province-wide state of calamity in Antique due to El Niño, a price freeze was imposed in 18 towns: Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Belison, Patnongon, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Caluya, Sebaste, Pandan, Libertad, Sibalom, San Remigio, and Valderrama.
The price freeze was also implemented in the towns of Sara, Estancia, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Balasan, and Dingle and the component city of Passi in Iloilo province.
In Negros Occidental, the price freeze is in effect in Kabankalan City, and the municipalities of Valladolid and San Enrique; and in Buenavista and San Lorenzo towns in Guimaras.
Iloilo City, meanwhile, imposed a price freeze following a state of calamity declaration due to pertussis outbreak. It will end on Saturday, May 25.
As of this writing, Nufable said they have yet to receive report on incompliant business establishments.
The DTI-6 said non-compliance of the price freeze order will result in the issuance of show-cause order.
Grace Benedicto, chief of Consumer Protection Division of DTI-6, said: “During the times of calamity, prize freeze ang ginagamit naton, so show-cause order. So, may ara monitoring team sa province nga makadto sa ila and ma-document sini nga paglapaw sang price freeze and ma-undergo sang adjudication process.”
“If ever may ara sang violation nga na-commit, may ara formal charge nga mabaton from us, addresses or hatag sa establishments for them to answer, may due process man,” she added.
Benedicto said there is no immediate closure of the incompliant establishment that would be issued a show-cause order.
“It would depend upon sa circumstances nga iya gin-violate, it may fall for the violation of the basic price or depending on facts, or price manipulation there could be a possibility of closure, i-hearing pa man ina,” she added.
Businesses found violating the price freeze face penalties, including imprisonment for one to 10 years or a fine, according to the DTI-6.
The automatic price freeze in the following LGUs is effective until the specified dates unless lifted earlier by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.:
* Iloilo City (March 26 to May 25)
* Buenavista, Guimaras (March 25 to May 24)
* Anini-y, Antique (March 26 to May 25)
* San Enrique, Negros Occidental (April 8 to June 7)
* Laua-an, Antique (April 12 to June 11)
* Sara, Iloilo (April 12 to June 11)
* Estancia, Iloilo (April 15 to June 14)
* San Remigio, Antique (April 16 to June 15)
* Tobias Fornier, Antique (April 17 to June 16)
* San Lorenzo, Guimaras (April 17 to June 16)
* whole province of Antique (April 18 to June 17)
* Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental (April 18 to June 17)
* Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (April 24 to June 23)
* Bingawan, Iloilo (April 24 to June 23)
* Passi City, Iloilo (April 25 to June 24)
* Balasan, Iloilo (April 25 to June 24)
* Dingle, Iloilo (April 30 to June 29)
* Valladolid, Negros Occidental (May 1 to June 30)
For Iloilo Province, DTI-6 said they have not yet included the province on the list of areas imposing price freeze. As of this writing, they have yet to receive the copy of the resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) placing the province under a state of calamity on May 14./PN
