DTI orders price freeze amid typhoon

Photo Courtesy: Jacopo Maiarelli | Unsplash

YESTERDAY, July 24, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that there would be a price freeze on basic necessities within the National Capital Region (NCR) following the Metro Manila Council (MMC) declaring that the area was in a state of calamity.

This is a result of Super Typhoon Carina, which is still currently causing heavy rains in different areas within the country. At present, as per PAGASA, the typhoon is now leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As per DTI Secretary Fred Paul: “The price freeze, effective immediately, aims to protect consumers from unjust price increases during this time of crisis.”

He adds that the DTI is committed to ensuring that all basic goods remain both affordable and accessible, particularly in these trying times.

What does this mean?

During a price freeze, the government ensures that all prices of a particular product are fixed; they cannot be increased.

Given the severity of the typhoon, many people have started panic-buying, stocking up on certain necessities. Some choose to take advantage of this by raising their prices, which people will have no choice but to buy anyway.

With this price freeze, price increases can be avoided.

As per the DTI, the essential goods affected by the price freeze are as follows:

Rice
Corn
Bread
Fresh vegetables
Roots crop
Pork
Beef
Poultry
Eggs
Milk
Coffee
Sugar
Cooking oil
Salt
Laundry soap
Detergent
Firewood
Charcoal
Candles
Certain medicines

The DTI is currently working with other government agencies, and has since activated monitoring teams, to ensure that the price freeze is strictly followed. They note that anyone who violates this law will face consequences, such as payment fines or even imprisonment.

Any cases you may find of overpricing or any other violations concerning the aforementioned price freeze can be reported to DTI’s consumer care hotline, 1-384, or their email, consumercare@dti.gov.ph.

Gaby Agbulos

Gaby Agbulos wants nothing more than to become a writer -- to be able to tell stories unheard of by the masses. She is currently majoring in Communication at the University of Santo Tomas, and after college, hopes to make an impact with the stories she writes, be it big or small.