THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday urged businessmen to observe the prevailing price freeze for basic commodities in areas devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda.
DTI Director for Consumer and Welfare Group Vic Dimagiba said they would continue to monitor prices of basic goods and ensure the implementation of the price freeze order in coordination with the regional and provincial offices in the Visayas.
Dimagiba said business establishments that may take advantage of the calamity situation to jack up profits would be required to explain to DTI why they are not complying with the prevailing price freeze.
“Businesses are getting back to normal but there is a need to continue monitoring to ensure that prices of basic goods are complying with the price freeze,” Dimagiba said. Show cause order On Jan. 6, DTI issued a show cause order to two supermarkets for failing to abide by the price freeze order. The DTI issued a notice to the supermarkets to require them a letter of explanation on the said incident, Dimagiba said.
He added the DTI would hold a “Diskwento Depot” in worst hit Tacloban City which would start on Jan. 27 where goods and supplies will be stored. He said the depot would last until June as a response to the lack of supplies in the area.