The Department of Trade and Industry yesterday announced a 60-day “automatic” price freeze on all basic necessities nationwide, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ declaration of a state of national calamity.
The DTI, which chairs the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), said it is working around the clock with manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to ensure sufficient and steady stocks of basic necessities.
It placed all its regional and provincial offices on heightened alert and mobilized them to enforce compliance with the price freeze.
Similarly, the Department of Health said that a 60-day nationwide price freeze was in effect on 146 essential medicines.
It said the measure aims to ensure that drug prices remain reasonable during emergencies and protect consumers from overpricing amid ongoing natural disasters.
The list of affected medicines includes maintenance drugs, antibiotics, fever and cough medicines, and other essential health products used during disaster response operations.
The health agency reminded pharmacies, distributors, and manufacturers to comply with the mandated price ceilings and warned against any violations.
For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) advised farmers to harvest mature crops, move stored seeds and farm tools to elevated areas, prepare food and medicine for evacuated livestock, clear irrigation canals to prevent flooding, and monitor weather updates from the state weather bureau.
Fisherfolk were likewise urged to bring their boats and fishing gear to higher ground, postpone sea travel due to rough waters, and coordinate with local authorities for fishing advisories.
Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development ordered its four key shelter agencies to impose a nationwide moratorium on housing amortization.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling directed the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation to impose the moratorium immediately.
“In accordance with the declaration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we have encouraged our attached agencies to implement a temporary moratorium on housing amortization… This is DHSUD’s immediate contribution to the President’s call to extend government assistance to those affected by the calamity,” he said.
