El Niño forces price freeze in 2 municipalities
By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) regional office has declared a price freeze of essential commodities in two municipalities of Oriental Mindoro due to a severe and prolonged drought brought about by the El Niño climate pattern.
In a statement on Monday, the DTI-MIMAROPA (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regional Office said the municipalities of Bulalacao and Mansalay are already under a state of calamity due to the dry spell.
“In view of this, and pursuant to Section 6 of the Price Act as amended, the prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days starting on February 26, 2024, in Bulalacao, and March 7, 2024, in Mansalay,” it said.
Products included in the list are canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, detergent soap, candles, bread, iodized salt, instant noodles, and bottled water.
According to the DTI-MIMAROPA, traders and retailers who violate the prize freeze will be subject to penalties: imprisonment for one up to 10 years or paying a fine of P5,000 up to P1 million.
“The DTI’s provincial monitoring and enforcement teams will intensify their efforts to monitor the pricing and availability of essential goods within the department’s jurisdiction,” it said.
“This measure is taken to ensure that businesses and establishments comply with the imposed price freeze,” it added.
The full list of the products that will be under the price freeze is available at https://tinyurl.com/MIMAROPAListOfPriceFreeze and at DTI offices, the department said.
