The Department of Trade and Industry is urging all consumers to be vigilant on commodity prices as the agency has issued a directive on price freeze. In connection with this, prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under automatic price control pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, as amended.

This is in connection with the proclamation of President Rodrigo Duterte under Proclamation 55 declaring a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.

Following the said declaration, Sections 10 (6) and 12 (6) of RA 7581 provides immediate dissemination of prevailing prices or the price ceilings imposed in lieu thereof, as the case may be, through publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected, and through broadcast by radio and, whenever the same is deemed to materially make dissemination of the information more effective by television.