The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has apprehended and issued 50 letters of inquiry to business establishments and profiteers that took advantaged of the crisis in Typhoon Odette-affected areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez reported during President Duterte’s “Talk to the Nation” late Monday night, Dec. 27, that DTI enforcers with the help of the Ciminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police apprehended and issued 50 Explanation/Inquiry Letters to establishments engaged in “profiteering.”

For Region 10, DTI has also issued 8 Letters of Inquiry and 7 Show Cause Orders in Misamis Oriental.

If these suspects cannot explain properly or justify, Lopez said the DTI will file a case against them for profiteering.

Lopez said that instances of profiteering happened during the first two days after the typhoon hit Visayas and Mindanao areas. Rampant profiteering and undue price hikes were reported in Bohol and Cebu for power generator sets, bottled water and doubling and even tripling of fuel prices.

According to Lopez, fuel prices in affected areas particularly Macrohon, and Maasin in Leyte and CARAGA regions were reported to have doubled or even tripled to P120 to P180 per liter. After DTI made apprehensions and issued orders with the help of the CIDG, Lopez said prices have now gone back to below P50 to P56 per liter or at price range pre-Odette.

According to Lopez, 52 percent of Bohol establishments are compliant to the Suggested Retail Prices, while Cebu has very high compliance rate of 99 percent. He said the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) has continued to monitor prices and supply in their respective areas.

In terms of supply, Lopez reported of insufficient rice and bottled water for Regions 6 and 7 although government agencies are also replenishing supplies.

Power generation sets and emergency lights have also been brought to affected areas. Some construction supplies are also arriving in Bohol to replenish supplies for hardware stores.

Lopez, however, said that those who cannot afford to buy construction materials will be provided temporary shelter, like “trapal” or tents, by the government.