TABUK, Kalinga -- Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) provincial office imposed freeze on price of prime commodities that include construction materials, following the declaration of a state of calamity in Luzon.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made the declaration after the massive devastations wrought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng last month.

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Kalinga reported P130,232,500 worth of damages to infrastructure in the aftermath of Typhoon Pepeng.

Victor Benganio of DTI-Kalinga said price of cement stayed at P216 per bag, while steel bars even went down to P118 from P120 for 10mm.

Benganio assured there is enough supply of construction materials in the province despite the reported damages on roads and bridges in areas leading to the province.

He explained once a state of calamity declaration is made by the President, there is an automatic power issued to DTI to impose price freeze on basic and prime commodities. This is aimed at controlling sudden movement in prices of commodities arising from the adverse conditions brought by calamities, Beganio said.

Dealers of construction materials in the province expressed cooperation to the imposition by the DTI and have stayed their prevailing prices.

Benganio, though, said prices of these materials usually drop during the rainy period because of decrease in demand, as construction work is lessened or temporarily stopped. (Larry Lopez)