• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The Department of Trade and Industry reported that a 60-day price freeze was imposed in 31 local government units in Western Visayas, either due to El Niño or Pertussis outbreak.
Out of the 31 declarations of a state of calamity from March 13 to May this year, 30 are due to El Niño and one is due to pertussis, or whooping cough, outbreak.
In Negros Occidental, the component cities of Kabankalan, Valladolid, and San Enrique towns are among the 31 LGUs affected.
Although the city of San Carlos in Negros Occidental was recently placed under a state of calamity, DTI provincial director Lynna Joy Cardinal said they have not received a copy of the state of calamity declaration, so it has no price freeze yet.
The implementation of a price freeze on commodities commonly used by consumers in a certain locality, she added, is in accordance with the Price Act of the Philippines.
The price freeze in San Enrique and Kabankalan City started on April 8 and will last until June 7, while in Valladolid it took effect from May 1 until June 30.
Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, the prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing rates for 60 days when an area is under a state of calamity, the agency said.
The measure aims to protect consumers from undue price increases during calamities.
Cardinal disclosed that prices of basic commodities in Negros Occidental have not increased. “They have suggested retail prices and are regulated by their competition,” she pointed out.*