Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual ordered the strengthening of the Price and Supply Monitoring of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities (BNPCs) to ensure its availability as effects of Super Typhoon Mawar with local name Betty, continues to threaten some parts of Northern Luzon.
As of 8:00AM on May 29, 2023, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 1 (RDRRMC1) has raised the status from Blue to Red Alert. As per the 11:00 AM Bulletin of PAGASA, Typhoon #BettyPH slightly decelerates while moving northwestward over the waters of east of Cagayan. The province of Ilocos Norte and the northern and central parts of Ilocos Sur are now under TCWS No. 1. Typhoon Betty will also enhance the southwest monsoon that will cause rains in some other parts of Ilocos Region.
Secretary Pascual also provided an update on what the Department’s Regional and Provincial Offices are currently doing amid the typhoon, stating, “Our Regional and Provincial Offices are in close coordination with Local Price Coordinating Councils to synchronize price and supply monitoring activities. Negosyo Center Business Counselors are also augmenting the human resource of the agency as they also conduct monitoring of BNPC prices and supply in their respective areas.”
Further, Fair Trade Laws (FTLs) monitoring and enforcement are also in place to safeguard the consumers against sellers who will take advantage of the situation.
“We have already spoken to manufacturers and they are ready to fill the shelves in time for the super typhoon. We urge consumers to be prepared but avoid panic buying and hoarding of groceries,” Secretary Pascual added.
Based on the agency’s market monitoring, the supplies of basic goods in the groceries are enough for the next 2-4 weeks.
As part of its mandate, the DTI monitors prices of canned fish, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent, and salt under basic necessities.
Daily Situational Reports of monitoring activities are submitted by work units to the Regional Office to ensure availability of BNPCs. Regular updates and information of prices and supply monitoring activities are also posted at DTI Region 1’s official Facebook page to keep consumers abreast of the latest information and situation. ♦
BNPC Monitoring Focal Persons:
| DTI Ilocos Norte | Imelda Cabello/ Francess Marie Tumamao | (077) 772-2332 r01.ilocosnorte@dti.gov.ph |
| DTI Ilocos Sur | Aurora Albaniel | (077)722-2688 r01.ilocossur@dti.gov.ph |
| DTI La Union | Christine Joy Gonzales | 072- 619-7251 r01.launion@dti.gov.ph |
| DTI Pangasinan | Jayson Tarog | 075-636-3975 r01.pangasinan@dti.gov.ph |
Date of release: 29 May 2023