• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A price freeze remains in effect on basic commodities in Bago City, Negros Occidental, where a state of calamity was declared due to the impact of Typhoon Goring, Mayor Nicholas Yulo disclosed yesterday.
Yulo said that about 20,000 residents of Bago City, temporarily displaced by flooding as a result of monsoon raids in previous weeks, have received assistance, with distribution still ongoing.
He said that the price freeze, which is a national directive, is being implemented following the convening of the Price Monitoring Council, in tandem with the Department of Trade and Industry, in Bago City.
Aside from the Bago City government, displaced residents also received assistance, mostly non-food items, such as blankets and clothing, among others, from nearby provinces, Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Tolentino, PAGCOR and other entities, according to the mayor.
Regarding the amount of the assistance to be extended to affected individuals, Yulo said the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council will have to meet again to discuss the quick response fund, adding that the assistance received by the city government for distribution, is still sufficient.
As soon as the present situation of affected residents has stabilized, we will lift the state of calamity, the mayor added.
Bago City was also among the local government units in the 4th district of Negros Occidental badly hit by swine diseases.
He, however, said that the increase in prices of pork has not been significant, although he acknowledged the low in supply of pork meat.*
