TACLOBAN CITY - Due to the devastation left by Typhoon 'Odette' in the province, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado declared a State Of Calamity on Monday, December 20.
"Severe Tropical Storm 'Odette' had caused tremendous destruction and damage to the component city and 18 municipalities of this province based on TCWS from PAGASA putting Southern Leyte under Number 4 and the initial damage report from province rapid response team," he explained.
The declaration of a state of calamity will be effective until further notice.It imposes price caps on basic necessities and prime commodities.It also requires agencies to monitor and stop overpricing, profiteering, and hoarding of food, medicines, and fuel.
Under the Price Act, basic necessities include rice; corn; bread; fresh, dried, and canned fish, and other marine products; fresh pork, beef, and poultry meat; fresh eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; root crops; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health.
Prime commodities, meanwhile, refer to fresh fruits; flour; dried processed and canned pork; beef and poultry meat; dairy products not falling under basic necessities; noodles; onions; garlic; vinegar; patis; soy sauce; toilet soap; fertilizer; pesticides; herbicides; poultry; swine and cattle feeds; veterinary products for poultry, swine, and cattle; paper; school supplies; nipa shingles; sawali; cement; clinker; GI sheets; hollow blocks; plywood; plyboard; construction nails; batteries; electrical supplies; light bulbs; steel wire; and all drugs not classified as essential drugs by the Department of Health.Violations may yield penalties of imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years, or a fine of not less than P5,000 nor more than P1 million.