DTI’S “Diskwento Caravan” program to continue this year

The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas has announced the continuation of its “Diskwento Caravan” program this year, starting with the successful event held at the earthquake stricken towns in Negros Oriental— La Libertad and Jimalalud last February 21 and 22.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said that during the “Diskwento Caravan” event in both towns, participating businesses or distributors sold basic and prime commodities at reduced prices to earthquake victims, a move that boosted the supply situation in the Negros province.

The DTI invited selected distributors to sell directly to the consumers at distributor’s price.

Participating distributors in the caravan were Island Merchants Corp. selling Nestle products, Macro Distributors Inc., Unilever, Chiara & Hannah’s Marketing and Consuelo Supermart. The National Food Authority also retailed rice, she reported.

Items sold at distributor’s price included coffee, milk, beverages, breakfast meal, detergent bar and powder, bath soap, toiletries, canned meat and sardines, batteries with free flashlight, among others.

The recent Diskwento Caravans in Jimalalud and La Libertad attracted around 1,566 consumers and garnered total sales of Php 242,782.30.

Most saleable items were the laundry detergent bar and powder, bath soap and shampoo, milk, coffee, and batteries.

Meanwhile, distributors in Negros Oriental have started supplying their accounts up to Guihulngan since two weeks ago.

Some store owners in Guihulngan opened their store despite the severe damage caused by the earthquake and sold basic and prime commodities at no price increase.

Caberte, together with the DTI Negros Oriental team, recently conducted a random price monitoring of basic and prime commodities sold within the calamity stricken areas.

In Jimalalud, the DTI team found out that some products were above the Suggested Retail Prices (SRPS) but owners were instructed to change their prices immediately based on the DTI SRPS.

Caberte instructed DTI Negros Oriental provincial director Javier Fortunato Jr. to conduct weekly supply and price monitoring of basic commodities to assure maximum protection of local consumers.

Caberte underscored that violations on the Price Act will be dealt with according to Republic Act 7581, a law which provides protection to consumers by prescribing measures against undue price increases during emergency situations and the like occasions.

The Diskwento Caravan is a priority project of President Benigno S. Aquino III to help ease the burden of Filipino consumers from the rising prices of basic and prime commodities.—