AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao said they have been intensifying the monitoring of business establishments particularly department stores to see if these establishments are complying with the price freeze order.
The price freeze order came after President Rodrigo Duterte declared state of national emergency on account of lawless violence following the deadly Davao blast that killed at least 14 people last September 2.
Lawyer Fel Lester Brillantes, DTI-Northern Mindanao's legal counsel, said they have not monitored any business establishments who are "taking advantage with the situation".
"When we say price freeze, you cannot increase or decrease the prevailing prices. Sa trend naman sa atong prices, ga-move man everyday, weekly, usahay depende sa ilang suppliers," he said.
"This order is already forwarded to our provincial offices and we are requiring them to submit reports everyday with regards to our prices," he adds.
However, Brillantes said their monitoring only covers basic commodities such as canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, instant noodles, laundry soap, detergent, and bottled water, while the Department of Agriculture covers agricultural crops, fish and other marine products, fresh meat, fresh poultry and dairy products, fertilizers, and other farm inputs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Mindanao said there is no need to implement the price freeze order as the prices of prime commodities haven't moved a bit for about a month now.
Based on a report by DA-Northern Mindanao's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), which monitors both Cogon and Carmen markets, ordinary and regular-milled rice have a prevailing price of P38/kilo while special-milled rice is worth P46/kilo.
Meat has a starting price worth P26-28/kilo while poultry products, such as dressed chicken, can be bought at P130/kilo.
The prices of condiments, such as sugar, falls at P44-52/kilo, while cooking oil's prevailing price is between P48-90/kilo.
Under Republic Act 781 otherwise known as Price Act, a price freeze is automatically implemented as a preventive measure during calamities or state of national emergencies to thwart overpricing of goods.
Duterte's declaration placing the country in a state of emergency is indefinite and will remain in effect unless otherwise withdrawn or lifted.
The Price Act stated that retailers found selling products more than the listed prevailing prices can face administrative or criminal charges and will be fined up to P1 million or imprisonment which lasts up to 10 years.
