DTI releases memo on anti-hoarding, panic buying; sets limit of items per transaction

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday released a memorandum circular against hoarding and panic-buying in light of the coronavirus disease threat and the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

In its Memorandum Circular No. 20-07, the DTI said “it has been observed that consumers have resorted to hoarding and panic buying, and that retailers have allowed the happening of the same in retail stores.”

READ: The Department of Trade and Industry releases a memorandum circular vs. hoarding and panic-buying in light of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to contain COVID-19. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/jHPU7JMgdB

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) March 19, 2020

“[T]his consumer behavior, if allowed to continue, not only will cause more fear and prevent other consumers from purchasing what they need, but will also cause artificial shortage and cause prices to soar,” it said.

With this, the Trade department has set a limit on how many items a consumer can purchase and such quantity should be sufficient to meet their needs only for a maximum of seven days.

The following are the products and their respective quantity limit per transaction:

• 70% solution antiseptic or disinfectant alcohol: two pieces regardless of volume
• Hand sanitizer: two pieces regardless of size
• Disinfecting liquids: two pieces regardless of size
• Bath soap: two pieces regardless of size
• Toilet paper: 10 pieces (if sold per roll) or 1 pack (if sold as pack)
• Face mask: five pieces N88 (surgical) any type or brand; five pieces N95 (industrial) any type or brand
• Locally produces instant noodles (mam, pancit canton): five pieces per type, per brand
• Locally produced canned sardines: five cans per type, per brand (regular size); three cans per type, per brand (big size)
• Canned regular milk: five cans per type, per brand (small); two cans per type, per brand (other than small)
• Powdered milk in sachet: two bundles per brand
• Instant coffee in sachet: two bundles per brand
• Mineral water: 10 bottles any brand (small), eight bottles any brand (medium), five bottles any brand (large), two bottles any brand (extra large)
• Loaf bread: four packs any kind, any brand (half loaf); two packs any kind, any brand (whole loaf)

“Retailers are hereby directed to post notices in conspicuous places within their outlets advising consumers of the quantity of basic necessities that they are allowed to purchase,” the DTI said.

The Trade department also warned of penalties for violators of the anti-hoarding and panic buying circular.

“Without prejudice to the penalties prescribed under relevant ordinances issued by local government units, any person or entity found violating the provisions of this Circular shall, if circumstances warrant, be further charged with appropriate violations of the said laws such as Illegal Act of Price Manipulation, particularly hoarding, punishable under the Price Act with a fine ranging between P5,000.00 and P2,000,000.00 and imprisonment of not less than five years, but not more than 15 years,” the DTI said.

The memorandum circular took effect immediately and shall be applicable during the entire period of Public Health Emergency. —LDF, GMA News