Price freeze: DTI warns profiteers

Proclamation 922 which puts the country under a state of public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus outbreak has triggered the implementation of a nationwide price freeze. Photo shows a woman checking prices at a grocery store in Iloilo City. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN
Proclamation 922 which puts the country under a state of public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus outbreak has triggered the implementation of a nationwide price freeze. Photo shows a woman checking prices at a grocery store in Iloilo City. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced a nationwide price freeze on basic necessities pursuant to the Price Act or Republic Act 7581 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.  

Proclamation 922, which puts the country under a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 outbreak, triggered the implementation of a nationwide price freeze.

This is automatic, said Provincial Director Judith Degala of DTI-Iloilo.

Section 6 of the Price Act states that prices of basic necessities shall be frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days or until sooner lifted by the President whenever there is a declaration of a state of emergency, calamity, or other similar conditions, said Degala.

Basic goods that are under the jurisdiction of the DTI include canned fish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent and salt. 

Degala urged consumers to alert DTI about sellers jacking up the prices of these products.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), on the other hand, covers basic agricultural goods such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh, dried and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar and fresh fruits. 

Essential drugs are under the Department of Health while firewood and charcoal are with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Household liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene are under the Department of Energy.

 All these basic goods are placed under price freeze for 60 days with the exception of household LPG and kerosene whose prices shall be frozen for 15 days only as provided in the Amended Price Act, or RA 10623./PN

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