DTI: price freeze in place for duration of Martial Law

The Department of Trade and Industry in Northern Mindanao (DTI-10) is reminding businessmen to observe the price freeze amid the martial law declaration.

Lawyer Fel Brillantes, DTI10 legal officer said business establishments which will be observed taking advantage of the crisis will be penalized.

“Warning lang namo sa unscrupulous businessmen, don’t try to increase prices because you will be sanctioned, we will make sure you will be held responsible because we are serious in this campaign,” he said.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in the entire island of Mindanao last Tuesday, May 23, a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities has been automatically enforced in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and in CARAGA.

Business owners who will be found guilty of violating the Price Act shall be charged an administrative fine of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000) up to One Million Pesos (Php 1M) or 1 up to 10 years imprisonment.

Pursuant to Section 6 of Philippine Republic Act 7581 (also known as the Price Act), prices of basic necessities and prime commodities should remain frozen at their prevailing prices and should be placed under price control once an area is declared under state of calamity or under an emergency situation.

The price freeze will run for a period of 60 days unless the President lifts the declaration first, or if the Congress revokes Martial Law, or the Supreme Court pushes to nullify the President’s declaration.

“Dili pwede mosaka, pero kung mubaba sila, advantageous nuon, businesses should not take advantage of the demand. Although our businesses are already aware kay constant man atong partner sa businesses, nainform na sila sa laws nga kung naay mga emergencies and calamities, such as martial law, automatic gyud na ang price freeze,” he said.

Brillantes, however, said their price monitoring officers are focusing on the Iligan City area where most of the displaced families are evacuating.

He said the close monitoring is to ensure that prices are not moving particularly on basic commodities.

“Walay ika-panic ug kabalaka kay constant monitoring, as a matter of fact, wala gyuy pag-move sa prices, business as usual ang establishments nato diri sa dakbayan,” he added.

Five government agencies are entrusted to monitor prices in the market to ensure consumers can access goods at reasonable prices, which includes the DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA), DOH, DOE, and members of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC).

The DTI is tasked to monitor prices of basic necessities such as bread, canned fish, coffee, salt, potable water in bottles, processed milk, instant noodles, candles, detergent, laundry soap and prime commodities such as flour, vinegar, soy sauce, processed and canned pork/beef/poultry meat, toilet soap, basic construction materials, batteries and basic electrical supplies, and school supplies.

Meanwhile, the DA is monitoring the prices of fresh and dried vegetable and meat goods, feeds, veterinary products, sugar and cooking oil; the DENR is delegated to monitor prices of firewood, charcoal, nipa shingles, plyboard, plywood, and sawali, while the DOE will monitor prices of household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and the DOH observes prices of drugs and medicines.