Retailers in areas under state of calamity compliant with price freeze —DTI

The government has not monitored violations to the price freeze in place in areas under state of calamity due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Interviewed on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday, Trade Assistant Secretary Ann Claire Cabochan said retailers in areas under state of calamity have been compliant based on the monitoring of their regional and provincial offices.

“Doon sa areas under a state of calamity, ay 'yung mga retailers naman po natin ay compliant with the price freeze [In areas under state of calamity, the retailers have been compliant with the price freeze],” she said.

Cabochan said under the Price Act, prices of basic commodities in areas under state of calamity should be maintained at their prevailing price or lower for 60 days.

Violators may face imprisonment for a period of one year to 10 years or a fine ranging between P5,000 and P1,000,000 or both, depending on the court’s discretion.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed Proclamation 84, declaring a state of calamity in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to the impact of Paeng.

On Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 3,963,555 people or 1,131,409 families were affected by Paeng.

A total of 15,162 houses were damaged — 12,968 partially and 2,194 totally — by the floods, landslides and storm surges.

Damage to agriculture worth P2.441 billion and damage to infrastructure worth P2.833 billion were also reported. —KBK, GMA Integrated News