Price Freeze Stays in Dumaguete City

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental on Wednesday said the price freeze that it had enforced earlier in Dumaguete City is still in effect.

DTI provincial head Javier Fortunato, Jr. explained that until such time there is a revocation of the order issued by the DTI in Region 7, the price freeze is still in effect in this city.

The clarification comes as people ask about a possible hike in the prices of commodities especially that the Christmas season fast approaching.

Fortunato said the bigger establishments like shopping malls, department stores and the market area are covered by the price freeze which includes commodities that are found in the list provided by the department.

The DTI here is conducting regular price monitoring to ensure that the order is strictly followed, he said.

The DTI had earlier announced a prize freeze on certain commodities after Dumaguete was placed under a state of calamity due to massive flooding wrought by typhoon Pablo last Oct. 18, leaving a trail of destruction behind although the city had reported of zero casualties.

The city council, in an emergency session the next day, approved the declaration of a state of calamity so that the city can utilize its calamity fund for the repair of damaged infrastructure and provide assistance to hundreds of families affected by the flooding.

The DTI is asking the people to help monitor the prices of commodities in Dumaguete City and report possible violations.