THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Mimaropa regional office has released a price freeze bulletin on basic goods in areas that are affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.    

The order applies to localities that have been placed under a state of calamity by the Oriental Mindoro provincial government  

“ln view of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 6290-2023, placing the municipalities of Pola, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro under a state of calamity, and pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act as amended, the prices of basic necessities under DTI’s jurisdiction are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices effective March 6, 2023, but not more than 60 days,” the DTI said in a statement on Tuesday    

Goods covered by the order include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk (evaporated, condensed and powdered milk), coffee, laundry/ detergent soap, candles, bread (loaf and pandesal), iodized salt, instant noodles, and bottled water.   

The department’s Oriental Mindoro office has stepped up monitoring activities to ensure the implementation of the order, DTI said.   

Price freeze violators will face administrative penalties plus imprisonment of one to 10 years or a fine ranging from P5,000 to P1 million, or both at the discretion of the court.    

The tanker MT Princess Empress carrying 800,000 liters of oil sank off Oriental Mindoro on March 1. The oil leakage has affected the island province’s waters and coastal communities as well as nearby areas. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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