DTI Imposes Nationwide Price Freeze On Basic Goods: Meat, Instant Noodles + More
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced a nationwide price freeze on basic necessities on March 11.
What prompted the nationwide price freeze was Proclamation No. 922 that puts the Philippines under a State of Public Health Emergency amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country. As of March 12, 2020, there is a total of 49 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The price freeze is in accordance with the Price Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 7581. Section 6 of the Republic Act states that prices of basic necessities shall be frozen at their current prices for sixty (60) days or until the President decides to lift the price freeze.
Under the jurisdiction of DTI, the basic necessities include the following: canned fish and other marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, and coffee. It also includes candles, laundry soap, detergent, and salt.Â
The basic goods covered by The Department of Agriculture (DA) are agricultural produce such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh, dried and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, and fresh fruits.
The Department of Health covers essential drugs; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources covers firewood and charcoal; while the Department of Energy covers basic goods such as household LPG and kerosene.
All of these basic necessities' prices are now frozen for 60 days, with the exception of the household LPG and kerosene. The Amended Price Act or RA 10623 dictates that the prices of LPG and kerosene will be frozen for fifteen (15) days only.
According to DTI, business establishments who violate the price freeze will have a penalty amounting to P5,000 up to P1,000,000 and/or imprisonment for a period of one (1) year up to ten (10) years.
For those who want to report establishments that sell basic goods for a higher price beyond the price freeze, you can do so by calling the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline or sending an email to, [email protected].
