(File photo)
CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas on Tuesday warned business owners of violating the agency’s price freeze order despite the weakening of the El Niño phenomenon.
DTI-Central Visayas Director Maria Elena Arbon said the price freeze in Toledo, a city west of Cebu, and Tudela, a town in the eastern seaboard’s Camotes Island, are still in effect.
Violators may be slapped with fines or up to 10 years of imprisonment.
In Cebu, the price freeze order in Tudela started on April 1 and will end on May 31, while Toledo City’s price freeze order started on April 8 and will end on June 7.
“The Department of Trade and Industry reminds business establishments in the following areas to comply with the price freeze on basic necessities. This shall be automatically terminated after 60 days unless sooner lifted by the President,” Arbon said in a statement.
The order covers the necessities such as processed milk, bread, salt, coffee, bottled water, detergent, canned fish, laundry soap, instant noodles, and candles
Apart from Tudela and Toledo, the whole province of Negros Oriental is placed in the price freeze order of the DTI.
“Consumers are enjoined to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell basic necessities above their prevailing prices,” Arbon said.
Violations can be reported through One-DTI (1-384) hotline or email at consumerCare@dti.gov.ph. (PNA)
