DTI serves notice to 24 retailers in Bantayan, Cebu found violating price freeze

On November 24, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) served notice to 24 retailers for violating the price freeze imposed in Central Visayas, which include the calamity stricken area of Batanyan Island.

DTI Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro said the department found these retailers violating the price freeze during their monitoring of 51 establishments, which covered 40 retailers and 11 hardware stores, in the towns of Bantayan on November 21 and 22 this year.

Navarro related that “these violators have already undergone due process and they have committed to follow the price freeze.” 

In a statement released to media, Navarro clarified that the price freeze covers only basic goods and does not include construction materials.

DTI Central Visayas regional director Asteria Caberte added that the DTI continues to monitor the prices and supply of basic necessities in the region to ensure that the price freeze is being followed and that region has adequate supply of basic goods.

Caberte underscored that, under the Price Act, the basic necessities assigned to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, salt.

For other basic necessities, Caberte highlighted the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) jurisdiction on rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is responsible for firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH. (end)

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DTI brings Diskwento Caravan to Maasin, Baybay,Catbalogan and Calbayog

Diskwento Caravan in Maasin, Leyte

After a successful run in Ormoc, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) brings the Diskwento Caravan to Maasin today (Nov. 18), Baybay, Leyte and Calbayog, Samar on Nov. 19, and Catbalogan on Nov. 20.

In a statement released to the media, DTI Central Visayas (DTI 7) Regional Director Asteria Caberte explained that Diskwento Caravans are meant to stabilize food supply in calamity areas and bring basic necessities at discounted prices to consumers, particularly in areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

DTI 7 regional office is closely coordinating with the DTI Eastern Visayas (DTI 8) Office, the Local Government Units (LGUs), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in holding the Diskwento Caravans.

Products featured in the Diskwento Caravan include bottled water, canned goods, coffee, milk, noodles, biscuits, bread, among others.

Five manufacturers and retailers in Cebu and Bohol including Alturas Group of Companies, Gardenia, NutriAsia, Dranix Distributors, Inc., Nestle, Purefoods/ San Miguel Corporation, Century Canning, Unilever are joining the Diskwento Caravans.

Sales during the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc on Nov. 14 reached Php833,743.00 and generated around 8,803 transactions.

DTI is planning to mount a Diskwento Caravan in Tacloban, Leyte this coming Thursday, November 21.

Dir. Caberte underscores that the DTI conducts Diskwento Caravans in areas to ensure that local consumers will have enough access to essential goods and that prices of basic commodities are stabilized in the midst of the crisis consumers are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.

Price freeze in Central Visayas

Meanwhile, Dir. Caberte disclosed that a price freeze on basic and prime goods is in effect in the provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental, Cebu and Siquijor which have been placed under a State of Calamity due to damages brought by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and category 5 typhoon.

Dir. Caberte explained that “the declaration of a state of calamity in a particular area renders an automatic price freeze on basic goods and considers prevailing prices at the time of the declaration as the actual price of these products.” 

“As contained in Section 6 of RA 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act, a price freeze is automatically implemented as a preventive measure in order to thwart overpricing of goods such as processed milk, canned goods, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread during times of calamities,” Caberte added.

Caberte said that “a price control is in effect for the duration of 60 days or until the state of calamity is lifted.” 

She warned businessmen of the penalty for profiteering in price freeze areas.  “In Section 5 of the Price Act, profiteering is one of the illegal acts of price manipulation. It provides that an administrative fine of up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and/ or a maximum of 10-year imprisonment shall be imposed for violation of Price Control or the price freeze. “

The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH. 

The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies.

Aside from basic and prime commodities, the DTI provincial offices in Central Visayas are presently monitoring prices and supply of construction and electrical materials, as well as compliance to mandatory standards, as part of its continuing interventions against the adverse impact of calamities. (end)

 

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DTI brings Diskwento Caravan to Ormoc today Nov. 14

In a move to stabilize food supply and bring basic necessities at discounted prices to consumers in Ormoc, particularly in areas affected by super cyclone Yolanda, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is holding a Diskwento Caravan today, November 14, 2013.

DTI Central Visayas regional office is closely coordinating with the DTI Eastern Visayas Office, the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in holding the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc.
Products featured in the Diskwento Caravan include bottled water, canned goods, coffee, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, bread, among others.
DTI Central Visayas Office is bringing retailers and manufacturers in Cebu such as San Miguel Corporation, Gardenia, NutriAsia, Nestle and Century Canning to the calamity stricken Ormoc City.

DTI-Central Visayas Regional Director  Asteria Caberte underscores that the DTI  conducts Diskwento Caravans in calamity areas to ensure that local consumers will have enough access to essential goods and that prices of basic commodities are stabilized in the midst of the crisis consumers are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.

DTI Central Visayas Office is bringing retailers and manufacturers in Cebu such as San Miguel Corporation, Gardenia, NutriAsia, Nestle and Century Canning to the calamity stricken Ormoc City.
DTI-Central Visayas Regional Director  Asteria Caberte underscores that the DTI  conducts Diskwento Caravans in calamity areas to ensure that local consumers will have enough access to essential goods and that prices of basic commodities are stabilized in the midst of the crisis consumers are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.

DTI-Central Visayas Regional Director  Asteria Caberte underscores that the DTI  conducts Diskwento Caravans in calamity areas to ensure that local consumers will have enough access to essential goods and that prices of basic commodities are stabilized in the midst of the crisis consumers are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.
The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI which upholds the right of consumers to have access to prime and basic goods.
For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan in Ormoc, interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-Region 7 (032) 255.0036 or 255.0037.



Dir. Caberte explained that “the declaration of a state of calamity in a particular area renders an automatic price freeze on basic goods and considers prevailing prices at the time of the declaration as the actual price of these products.” 

“As contained in Section 6 of RA 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act, a price freeze  is automatically implemented as a preventive measure in order to thwart overpricing of goods such as processed milk, canned goods, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread during times of calamities,” Caberte added.
Dir. Caberte explained that “the declaration of a state of calamity in a particular area renders an automatic price freeze on basic goods and considers prevailing prices at the time of the declaration as the actual price of these products.” 

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“As contained in Section 6 of RA 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act, a price freeze  is automatically implemented as a preventive measure in order to thwart overpricing of goods such as processed milk, canned goods, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread during times of calamities,” Caberte added.
“As contained in Section 6 of RA 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act, a price freeze  is automatically implemented as a preventive measure in order to thwart overpricing of goods such as processed milk, canned goods, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread during times of calamities,” Caberte added.
She warned businessmen of the penalty for profiteering in price freeze areas.  “In Section 5 of the Price Act, profiteering is one of the illegal acts of price manipulation. It provides that an administrative fine of up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and/ or a maximum of 10-year imprisonment shall be imposed for violation of Price Control or the price freeze. “

The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH. 

The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies. 
She warned businessmen of the penalty for profiteering in price freeze areas.  “In Section 5 of the Price Act, profiteering is one of the illegal acts of price manipulation. It provides that an administrative fine of up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and/ or a maximum of 10-year imprisonment shall be imposed for violation of Price Control or the price freeze. “
The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH. 

The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies. 
The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH. 
The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies. 
The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies. 

Price freeze still in effect

Meanwhile, Dir. Caberte disclosed that a price freeze on basic and prime goods remains in effect in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu which were placed under a State of Calamity due to damages brought by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and category 5 typhoon.

Caberte said that “a price control is in effect for the duration of 60 days or until the state of calamity is lifted.” 

Aside from basic and prime commodities, the DTI provincial offices in Central Visayas are presently monitoring prices and supply of construction and electrical materials, as well as compliance to mandatory standards, as part of its continuing interventions against the adverse impact of calamities. (end)

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Schedule of Diskwento Caravans for calamity areas in Bohol

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DTI organizes Diskwento Caravans for calamity areas in Bohol

In an effort to bring prime commodities and basic necessities at discounted prices to consumers in Bohol, particularly in areas affected by the earthquake, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is holding a series of Diskwento Caravans.

DTI will coordinate closely with the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in holding the Diskwento Caravan in Antequera on October 27 (Sunday) , in Maribojoc on October 29  (Tuesday) and Tubigon on Oct. 31.

Yesterday, Oct. 24, DTI conducted a Diskwento Caravan in Loon, Bohol.

Products featured in the Diskwento Caravans in Bohol include canned goods,  bath soaps, shampoos, coffee, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, eggs,  bread, dressed chicken, , bottled water,  and cleansing agents, among others.. 

The Alturas Group of Companies, Bohol Quality Corporation and AH Shoppers’ Mart, Gardenia Bakeries Phils. Inc. are some of the participating retailers while the National Food Authority (NFA) will be there to sell NFA rice to consumers.

DTI-Central Visayas Regional Director  Asteria Caberte underscores that the DTI  conducts Diskwento Caravans in Bohol to ensure that local consumers will have access to essential goods in the midst of the crisis they are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI where basic necessities and prime commodities are sold at discounted prices. The project upholds the right of consumers to have access to basic goods, especially those belonging in marginalized communities.

Aside from Diskwento Caravans, DTI also monitored the supply and prices of basic and prime commodities.

As of Monday, October 21, the DTI’s price and supply monitoring teams have visited and checked 236 wet markets, supermarkets, and retail stores in the affected provinces and cities of Bohol and Cebu, which are earthquake-stricken areas under state of calamity.

DTI-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (CWBRG) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba asserts, “Through the DTI’s Central Visayas regional office and provincial offices of Bohol and Cebu, several teams simultaneously monitored retail stores and establishments of basic necessities to ensure that there is adequate supply of said products and are available for sale to affected consumers”.

“Equally important, the Department also verified from the retailers that they are selling these basic goods according to the list of prevailing prices that was released last Friday, 18 October 3013, which protects the affected consumers from businesses that take advantage of these unfortunate situations”, OIC Dimagiba points out.

Since the onslaught of the 7.2 Richter scale earthquake in Bohol, the DTI regional office of Central Visayas and its provinces were directed to closely monitor the price and supply of establishments distributing basic goods in affected areas.

Bohol and Cebu have been declared under state of calamity through provincial board resolutions. A provincial board or a local government unit declares its area under state of calamity when necessary. Section 6 of the Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act specifies that when an area was proclaimed or declared a disaster area or under a state of calamity, prices of basic necessities in an area shall automatically be frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under automatic price control.

DTI-Region VII (Central Visayas) Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte explains, “The DTI teams in Central Visayas have intensified their efforts in inspecting affected areas and in checking the wet markets, supermarkets and other retailers that sell products that are commonly used by the public at this time”.

The DTI-Cebu teams monitored the establishments in the five (5) cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapulapu, Danao and Talisay; and in the seven (7) municipalities of Consolacion, Compostela, Liloan, Carmen, Catmon, Naga, and Minglanilla. Similarly, the DTI-Bohol checked the retailers in Tagbiliran City and its 28 municipalities of Clarin, Cortes, Catigbian, Alburquerque, Ubay, San Miguel, Talibon, Sevilla, Batuan, Bilar; Carmen, Corella, Balilihan, Sikatuna, Dagohoy, Getafe, Trinidad, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, San Isidro, Calape, Buenavista, Inabanga, Tubigon, Baclayon, Sagbayan, and, Antequera.

Regional Director Caberte specifies, “We did check the prices and supplies of basic goods in 236 outlets. From this exercise, we found 30 retailers – six (6) retail establishments and 24 retail stores – that are selling more than the dictated prices of basic necessities should have and as such, we have issued them their notices of violation that summon each one of them to explain why they were selling much more than the set prevailing prices”.

“ These 30 establishments shall undergo due process and  DTI CWBRG will provide the necessary assistance to DTI-Central Visayas by sending mediation/ adjudication officers to handle the cases. In this case, the DTI-Central Visayas can focus in monitoring the market and in enforcing the set prevailing prices for basic necessities”, OIC Dimagiba points out.

In Section 5 of the Price Act, profiteering is one of the illegal acts of price manipulation. It provides that an administrative fine of up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and/ or a maximum of 10-year imprisonment shall be imposed for violation of Price Control or the price freeze.

Atty. Dimagiba emphasizes that the DTI’s regional and provincial offices are working hand in hand with the local government units and other offices through the Local Price Coordinating Councils or LPCCs.

The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH.

The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with its members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies.

The DTI published the list of prevailing prices under price freeze in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu last 18 October 2013 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, and The Freeman (Bohol and Cebu); last 19 October 2013 in Sun Star Cebu and Cebu Daily News; and yesterday, 20 October 2013 in The Bohol Chronicle.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan and  update on price and supply of basic and prime commodities in Bohol and Cebu,  interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-BTRCP 751.3233; DTI-Region VII (032) 255.0036/ 255.0037; DTI-Bohol (038) 501.8260;; DTI Cebu (032) 255-3926 and (032) 255-6971.
 (end)

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DTI conducts Diskwento Caravan in Loon, Bohol today, Oct. 24

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducts Diskwento Caravan today, October 24, in Loon, Bohol near the municipal public market. The Department holds this activity for the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the province. The DTI, through the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), immediately invited manufacturers and retailers of basic necessities and prime commodities to join in the activity.

Products to be featured in the caravan include canned goods, laundry soaps, bath soaps, shampoos, coffee, creamers, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, eggs, dressed chicken and cleansing agents. The Alturas Group of Companies, Bohol Quality Corporation and AH Shoppers’ Mart are some of the participating retailers while the National Food Authority (NFA) will be there to sell NFA rice to consumers.

DTI-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (CWBRG) Officer-in-Charge and Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) Director Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba underscores, “It is important for the DTI to conduct Diskwento Caravan in Bohol in view of the calamity that hit the province. The Department ensures that their local consumers will have access to essential goods in the midst of the crisis they are facing.”

“Local suppliers in Region VII are very supportive of DTI’s initiatives. They assured us that they will join in the conduct of Diskwento Caravan in Bohol,” DTI-Region VII (Central Visayas) Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte adds.

In addition to today’s Diskwento Caravan in Loon, it will also be conducted in Antequera on October 27 (Sunday) and Maribojoc on October 29 (Tuesday).

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI where basic necessities and prime commodities are sold at discounted prices. The project upholds the right of consumers to have access to basic goods, especially those belonging in marginalized communities. Moreover, it motivates the business sector to participate in the programs of the government and support its advocacies.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan, you may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-BTRCP 751.3233; DTI-Region VII (032) 255.0036/ 255.0037; and DTI-Bohol (038) 501.8260. (end)

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DTI Cebu releases report on emergency price and supply monitoring of basic and prime commodities

Supply of basic and prime commodities in Cebu are adequate and prices of commodities are stable and within the suggested retail prices given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DTI Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro announced today.

Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office released a summary report to the media on the results of the special price monitoring and supply situation the office conducted after the earthquake that hit the Visayas.

Monitored yesterday (Oct. 16) were a list of establishments and wet markets totaling 60. These included those found in Cebu City (23 establishments and 1 wet market), Mandaue City (12 establishments and 1 wet market), Lapulapu (11 and 1 wet ), Minglanilla (6 and 1 wet), Consolacion and Danao City areas (4 establishments).

In establishments that have opened last October 16, long lines of consumers were observed in the early morning due to closure of most stores and malls because of the earthquake.

The 11 price monitoring teams of DTI-Cebu were distributed as follows: Cebu City (4 teams), Mandaue City (3 teams), Lapulapu City (2 teams, Minglanilla (1 team), Consolacion / Danao City (1 team).

For inquiries on prevailing prices of basic and prime commodities, consumers may call Gladys Oro of DTI Cebu at the NERBAC Cebu telephone nos. (032) 255-3926 and (032) 255-6971.


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