NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Thursday there is no need yet to implement price freeze in the province as prices of basic goods remain stable in the wake of the declaration of the state of calamity.
Marañon, chairman of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), added that there is no need to convene the council unless there will be substantial increases in the market prices of products.
“I doubt there will be upward movement on the prices of products in the local market especially now that the province is already experiencing rains, particularly due to the ongoing cloud seeding operations,” he said.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental had earlier told Sun.Star Bacolod that it is still consulting its regional office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on whether to implement prize freeze in the province.
Based on Section 6 of the Republic Act 7581, or the Price Act, prices in an area proclaimed or declared a disaster area, or under a state of calamity or under an emergency shall be automatically frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under automatic price control.
It is automatically imposed for 60 days in areas placed under state of calamity.
DTI, however, said they have to be certain of their benchmark as their current price monitoring in establishing the price trend in the province is only limited to Bacolod City, but the state of calamity declaration covers other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental.
On Monday, DTI-Negros Occidental reported that prices of basic and prime commodities especially among supermarkets and other commercial establishments it monitors in the province, particularly in Bacolod City, have remained stable amid the prevailing effects of El Niño.
Basic commodities under DTI’s monitoring include products like soap, milk, coffee, salt, bread, and sardines. Examples of prime commodities are noodles and all kinds of canned goods except sardines.
Agriculture products like rice, corn, and sugar are part of basic necessities, but not included in agency’s monitoring.