Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Rebecca Rascon Saturday announced the automatic freezing of prices of basic commodities in Negros Occidental, and warned that severe penalties will be imposed on violators.

Rascon said that, with the President's declaration of a state of national calamity, prices of basic commodities in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City should remain at the levels they were at on the third week of September.

Supermarkets, retailers and traders of basic commodities are mandated to keep prices at automatic price control levels or face severe penalties as stipulated the Price Act (Republic Act 7581), she said.

Under the Price Act basic necessities include rice, corn, bread, fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh and processed milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, firewood, charcoal, candles and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health.

The Price Act states that those violating the price ceilings set face imprisonment of one to ten years and fines of from P5,000 to P1 million.

Those engaged in price manipulation through hoarding, profiteering and cartels face imprisonment of 5 to 15 years and fines of P5,000 to P2 million, the Price Act also states.

Violators also face temporary closure and suspension or cancellation of permits to operate, it adds.

Rascon said on Saturday that she held a meeting with retailers that included Robinsons, ShoeMart, Lopues and Libra Mart to inform them of the freezing of the prices of basic commodities.

“We are informing the retailers and conducting an information drive through the media, so starting today we can take action against violators,” she said.

Rascon said the DTI is also recommending a mandated price ceiling on prime commodities to be approved by the President.

The Price Act identifies prime commodities as fresh fruits, flour, dried , processed and canned pork, beef and poultry meat, dairy products not falling under basic necessities, noodles, onions, garlic, vinegar, patis, soy sauce, toilet soap, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle, paper, school supplies, nipa shingles, sawali, cement, clinker, GI sheets, hollow blocks, plywood, construction nails, batteries, electrical supplies, light bulbs, steel wires, and all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the DOH.

The implementing agencies of the Price Act are the departments of Agriculture, Health, Environment and Natural Resources, and Trade and Industry, Rascon said.

Meanwhile, DTI Secretary Peter Favila said in a Malacañang press statement that aside from food and construction materials, price controls have been imposed on oils and lubricants, liquefied petroleum gas, funeral parlor services, and auto repair.

Favila also said the Department of Justice found nothing wrong with imposing price controls on gasoline and diesel. "What the price ceiling will be is now being studied by us and the Department of Energy," he said.

Favila said some LPG suppliers and dealers have voluntarily frozen their prices so as not to burden further the victims of typhoon "Ondoy".

He said the Department of Social Welfare gives burial assistance to the poor. "But what is happening is that private funeral parlors charge double what DSWD gives in burial assistance," Favila said.*CPG

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