BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The top official of the Department of Trade and industry in the province said the 60-day price freeze on all basic necessities in areas declared under a state of calamity does not include wet market products.
DTI-Negros Occidental head Rachel Nufable said the freeze ordered by President Duterte over areas under a state of calamity after Typhoon Odette covers only basic goods sold in grocery stores
Basic goods or necessities are those vital to the needs of consumers for their sustenance while prime commodities are goods not considered as basic necessities but are essential to consumers in times of calamity.
The price levels that must be maintained under a price freeze are those monitored by DTI last month.
Nufable added a mandatory price freeze on genarator sets is also being considered according to Nufable since this has been one of the concerns of the citizens especially during times like this.
The local price coordinating council in the province is chaired by Governor Eugenio Lacson in the province and Mayor Evelio Leonardia for Bacolod City, s.
Under the DTI’s definition, basic necessities are products like canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, salt, drinking water and instant noodles.
Other agencies like Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health has also implemented price freeze on products under their monitoring.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared Regions 4B,6,7,8 and 10 and CARAGA under a state of calamity last 21 December 2021.