The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is enforcing a price freeze on basic necessities in Puerto Princesa City, Narra, Brooke’s Point, and Aborlan. This action followed the declarations of a state of calamity in those area due to the devastating effects of a persistent shear line.
The declarations automatically freeze the prices of basic necessities at their prevailing prices for 60 days. The price freeze bulletin is issued pursuant to Section 6 of RA 7581 or the Price Act as amended.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque emphasized that the Department is enforcing the price freeze to protect consumers from profiteering.
“The DTI is on the ground, actively monitoring prices to ensure that essential goods remain accessible to all affected communities. Let me be clear—any attempt at profiteering will be met with swift and decisive action,” Secretary Roque said.
“This is our promise under the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ agenda: to safeguard the welfare of every Filipino, no matter the circumstances,” the trade chief declared.
The basic necessities under the DTI’s jurisdiction include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk (evaporated, condensed, and powdered milk), coffee, laundry or detergent soap, candles, bread (tasty and “pandesal”), iodized salt, instant noodles, and bottled water.
The DTI reminds the public that violators of these regulations will be subject to administrative penalties, which may include imprisonment for one to ten years, or fines ranging from PHP 5,000 to PHP 1,000,000.
