The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a price freeze on agriculture and fishery products in Masbate after the province was placed under a state of calamity due to damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Opong.
The prize freeze order, signed on Monday by DA-Bicol executive director Rodel Tornilla, was issued in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 7581 or the Price Act, which mandates an automatic price freeze in areas devastated by calamities.
The law directs retailers, wholesalers, traders, processors and market operators in Masbate to maintain the prevailing retail and wholesale prices of covered commodities as of Sept. 25, the day before the typhoon struck.
Among the commodities covered by the order are rice, corn, vegetables, fruits, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, sugar, garlic, onion and cooking oil.
‘Hoarding, artificial scarcity, price manipulation and other unfair trade practices are prohibited,’ the DA warned.
Violators will face sanctions provided under RA 7581 and RA 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
To ensure compliance, joint monitoring and inspection will be conducted by the DA and the offices of the provincial agriculture, market management, and disaster risk reduction and management as well as the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police.
Commodities unlawfully withheld from the market or sold beyond the allowed price levels may be seized and distributed to the public.
The price freeze will remain in effect for 60 days or until the state of calamity in Masbate is lifted, whichever comes first.
The DA directed municipal and city mayors, market operators and local trade groups to disseminate the advisory and certify compliance within 48 hours.
Aside from Masbate, a price freeze on basic commodities has been imposed in Biliran, Cagayan, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon as well as in the municipalities of Ibajay in Aklan, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, Dagupan in Pangasinan, and Calbayog and San Vicente in Samar.
The Department of Trade and Industry said prices and supplies of basic goods in areas hit by Opong and Super Typhoon Nando remained stable.
Power restoration
Meanwhile, restoration of power infrastructure in Masbate will cost around P400 million, according to the Department of Energy.
DOE Secretary Sharon Garin yesterday led an onsite inspection and assessment of the situation and assured local officials and residents that power would be immediately restored.
Masbate is reeling from a massive power outage due to Opong.
‘We are moving with urgency but also with care. Safety remains our priority for both workers on the ground and the public,’ Garin said.
Twelve power cooperatives in Luzon and the Visayas were placed under monitoring as of 1:55 p.m. yesterday due to the combined impact of Opong, Nando and the southwest monsoon.
Of the 12 power cooperatives, 11 were experiencing partial service interruptions, while the Masbate Electric Cooperative remained under a total power outage.