Price Freeze Up in Ilagan, Isabela

Price control on basic goods will be imposed in the city of Ilagan in Isabela for 60 days after its local government declared the city under state of calamity due to typhoon ‘Lando’ (Koppu).

Under the Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, price freeze on basic necessities shall be automatically implemented in state of calamity areas.

This means prices of basic goods which include canned sardines, processed milk, bottled water, locally manufactured instant noodles, coffee, detergent soap, bread, candles, salt, rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh pork, fresh beef, fresh poultry meat, fresh and dried fish and other marine products, fresh egg, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, root crops, and sugar will be unchanged for the next 60 days.

Basic necessities now also include household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene which shall freeze their prices for the next 15 days.

The Price Act also penalizes illegal price manipulation such as profiteering, imposing imprisonment of five years up to fifteen years and administrative fine of Php 5,000.00 up to Php 1 million.

Aside from Ilagan City, reports earlier said provinces of Aurora and Pangasinan are eyeing to declare under state of calamity due to the onslaught of typhoon ‘Lando’. (PNA) FPV/KMC