DTI Speaks on Nationwide Price Freeze Amid ASF
DTI – The Department of Trade and Industry said that the nationwide price freeze on basic necessities has reached its expiry date.
Amid certain events, the national government and the public agencies are acting and implementing certain mandates to protect the consumers. There were several instances in the past when a price freeze was implemented for the protection of the consumers from those who wanted to grab the opportunity over certain products.
One of the recent even when a national price freeze was implemented was amid the African Swine Fever or more commonly called as ASF. It urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to implement a price freeze as there were limits on pork products as some countries were temporarily banned for imports to the country.
The national price freeze was implemented under Proclamation No. 1143. It mandated an automatic control on the prevailing prices of the goods at the time that it was released.
The said price freeze started last May 10. It ordered a 60-day control thus the freeze lasted last July 9. Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) gave a message for the manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and consumers.
According to Trade Industry, the basic necessities now will be sold based on their suggested retail price or SRPs for September 30, 2019 list. The products include luncheon meat, processed milk, tomato sauce, beef loaf, corned beef, meatloaf, toilet soap, detergent soap, instant noodles, coffee, bread, bottled water, and candle. Based on the report, condiments such as
Meanwhile, despite the lifting of the price freeze, DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo assured the consumers that they will continue to communicate with the manufacturers and retailers to make sure that they implement reasonable prices and that the supply and the availability in the market are stable.
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