Solon bats for price freeze in quake-hit areas up north

The national government must enforce a price freeze on essential goods in areas declared to be under a state of calamity in the wake of the magnitude 7 earthquake that shook northern Luzon on Wednesday.

Thus, said Pinuno Party-list Rep. Howard Guintu who cited a provision of the law for such mechanism during disasters.

“Nakasaad sa ating Price Act o Republic Act (RA) 7581 na ang presyo ng nga pangunahing bilihin o basic necessities ay mafi-freeze sa prevailing rate o kasulukuyang presyo sa loob ng maximum na 60 na araw sa mga lugar na idineklarang disaster area o nasa ilalim ng state of calamity o emergency (The Price Act of Republic Act 7581 provides that the prices of basic necessities can be frozen at their prevailing rate within a maximum of 60 days in areas that are under a state of calamity),'" Guintu said in a statement Friday, July 29.

“Siguruhin sana ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno na sapat ang suplay ng mga pangunahing bilihin sa Abra at ipa bang lugar na tinamaan ng lindol sa norte at bantayan nila na walang mga magsasamantala sa trahedyang ito (I hope the Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies can guarantee ample supply of basic necessities in Abra and other areas stricken by the earthquake up north and at the same time prevent abusers)," he added.

The DTI has jurisdiction over basic goods that canned sardines processed marine products, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, and laundry soap, detergent, and salt.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) overs agricultural crops, fish and other marine products, fresh meat, fresh poultry and dairy products, as well as fertilizers. Essential medicines, meanwhile, under the Department of Health (DOH).

“Magtulungan po sana tayo na maibsan ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan sa norte na tinamaan ng lindol. Kung kinailangan ay i-tap natin ang ating kapulisan upang tumulong sa pagbantay ng price freeze (I appeal for cooperation in order to cushion the suffering of our countrymen up north from the earthquake. If necessary, we should tap our police to help in implementing the price freeze),” Guintu said.