SAN JOSE, Antique – Automatic Price Ceiling (APC) will be imposed in the province of Antique following the declaration of a state of calamity due to a dengue outbreak.
Glen Fernando, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique provincial office, said they are now preparing the APC to be submitted to Gov. Rhodora Cadiao for approval and implementation.
“We expect the APC to be approved and implemented provincewide within this week,” he said.
Before the Antique provincial board declaration of a state of calamity on July 14, two municipalities that had earlier made their own declarations due to the surge of dengue cases already implemented their local APCs.
The APC is based on the current price of basic commodities under the DTI jurisdiction before the declaration of state of calamity.
“The APC is valid for 60 days but then the provincial board that declared the state of calamity could lift it anytime when the situation has already improved,” he said.
These towns were Sibalom (placed under state of calamity on June 3), and Bugasong (June 28).
Sibalom DTI Negosyo Center Business Councilor Charlyn Cagape said the APC was implemented on June 8 and so far, major retail stores in the town have complied with the APC.
“We conduct daily monitoring on five major retail stores in the municipality,” she said.
With the APC, a Bonus pack 555 sardines with 155 grams is still being sold at P16.60 each, Bear Brand powdered milk 150 grams for P50 each, and Lucky Me Chicken Noodles 55 grams for P8.25 each.
Bugasong DTI Negosyo Center Business Councilor Jenny Vi Cabayao said they are also monitoring daily the prices of commodities since the APC on July 5 a day after the Local Price Coordinating Council chaired by Mayor John Lloyd Pacete approved it.
“The retail store owners also adheres to the APC, however, they had expressed concern that their suppliers already informed them of their intention to implement price adjustment by next month,” she said.
Antique, as of the latest available report of the Integrated Provincial Health Office on July 9, has 1,581 total cases of dengue including six deaths, which is 556 percent higher than last year’s 241 cases with two deaths. (PNA/PN)
