The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) MIMAROPA Regional Office has issued a bulletin announcing a price freeze on essential commodities in various areas under a state of calamity.
Based on two separate Sangguniang resolutions, the municipalities of San Fernando in Romblon, as well as Roxas and Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro, have declared a state of calamity due to the increasing instances of African swine fever in these areas. In view of this, and pursuant to Section 6 of RA 7581 or the Price Act as amended, the prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for 60 days starting on October 04, 2023, in San Fernando, and October 09, 2023, in Roxas and Mansalay.
In the midst of the state of calamity declared in the town of Boac, Marinduque, due to a rabies outbreak, a price freeze has also been implemented starting October 10, 2023, to regulate the price and supply of basic necessities in the area.
Basic necessities under DTI’s jurisdiction include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk (evaporated, condensed and powdered milk), coffee, laundry/ detergent soap, candles, bread (tasty and pandesal), iodized salt, instant noodles, and bottled water.
DTI would like to emphasize that individuals who violate these regulations will be subject to penalties, including imprisonment for a duration of 1 to 10 years, or a fine ranging from Php5,000.00 to Php1,000,000.00. In addition to these legal consequences, 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. This measure is taken to ensure that businesses and establishments comply with the imposed price freeze.
For the full list of price freeze, please visit https://tinyurl.com/MIMAROPAListOfPriceFreeze, or drop by the nearest DTI office. ♦
Date of Release: 17 November 2023
