DTI enforces 60-day price freeze in calamity-hit Palawan areas

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on Saturday that a 60-day price freeze on basic necessities is now in effect in Puerto Princesa City, Narra, Brooke’s Point, and Aborlan in Palawan.

The measure follows the declaration of a state of calamity in these areas due to the severe impact of a persistent shear line. 

Under the Price Act (RA 7581, as amended), such declarations automatically freeze the prices of essential goods at their prevailing rates for 60 days.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque emphasized that the price freeze is intended to protect consumers from profiteering.

“The DTI is on the ground, actively monitoring prices to ensure that essential goods remain accessible to all affected communities. Let me be clear—any attempt at profiteering will be met with swift and decisive action,” Roque stated.

The essential goods under the DTI’s jurisdiction and subject to the price freeze are:

• Canned fish and other marine products
• Processed milk (evaporated, condensed, and powdered)
• Coffee
• Laundry or detergent soap
• Candles
• Bread (tasty and pandesal)
• Iodized salt
• Instant noodles
• Bottled water

The DTI warned that violating the price freeze could result in administrative penalties, including fines ranging from P5,000 to P1,000,000 and imprisonment of one to ten years.

To ensure compliance, the DTI’s provincial monitoring and enforcement team in Palawan has intensified efforts to track the pricing and availability of these essential goods. — DVM/KG, GMA Integrated News