DTI Enforces Price Freeze in Bohol, South Cebu

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 on Thursday enforces the first day of Price Freeze in basic commodities following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Seniang last year.

DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte said they are monitoring the price of basic commodities in the markets of the province of Bohol. She said they are making sure that business sector wont take advantage of the storm that affected residents of region 7 last December.

She added that traders will be punished by fines once the DTI proves that they are raising the prices of these goods despite the effectivity of the price freeze.

Basic commodities, according to Caberte, includes rice, sugar, coffee and sardines. However, Caberte clarified that the price freeze policy does not include prime commodities such as corned beef, beef loaf and some canned goods.

Caberte added they are also monitoring the declining supply of bottled water in the southern part of Cebu after Seniang brought floods in its wake. Caberte said this might trigger businessmen to spike the price of water bottle as supply decreases.

Southern town of Ronda, Sibonga and Dumanjug were flooded after Tropical Storm Seniang brought millions of barrels of rain fall on December last year.