DOE imposes price freeze on LPG in Negros Occidental amid state of calamity

The Department of Energy (DOE) has imposed a price freeze on household fuel commodities in Negros Occidental after the province was placed under a state of calamity due to the impacts of Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption.

In an advisory, the DOE said that the price freeze on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in cylinders 11 kgs and below, as well as kerosene products, in the entire province will be in effect until December 27, 2024.

Meanwhile, the price freeze in the City of Bago, which declared a state of calamity on Monday, December 16, will be until December 30.

During a price freeze, increases in prices of mentioned products are strictly prohibited within a 15-day period.

Kanlaon Volcano had an explosive eruption on December 9, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to raise its status to Alert Level 3.

Under Alert Level 3, there is a high level of volcanic unrest. Magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest, with indications that hazardous eruption could occur in weeks.

Possible hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News