CABARROGUIS, Quirino – – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Quirino province has announced that price control on basic necessities in the province has been officially lifted on January 13, 2025 upon the end of the 60-day price freeze which took effect on November 13, 2024.
It can be recalled that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan enacted SP Resolution No. 283 series of 2024, which declared a State of Calamity in the province of Quirino, pursuant to the implementation of the Automatic Price Control under Republic Act no. 7581, otherwise known as the Price act of the Philippines.
Alyssa Maranion, DTI Quirino designated Information Officer, said basic necessities were fixed at their prevailing prices for 60 days from November 13, 2024, to January 12, 2025.
“With the lifting of the price freeze, prices of basic necessities revert to the Suggested Retail Prices published by our office and other concerned agencies,” Maranion said.
She also assured that DTI will continue its prices and supply monitoring and enforcement activities to maintain fair pricing and to protect the consumers from profiteering.
The DTI monitors the price and supply of basic necessities such as, but not limited to, canned sardines, processed milk, powdered milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, salt, detergent soap, bottled water, and candles; and prime commodities such as, but not limited to, canned meat, vinegar, fish sauce, soy sauce, toilet soap, paper, school supplies, batteries, flour, cement, galvanized iron sheets, hollow blocks, construction nails, light bulbs, electrical supplies, and steel wires.
On the other hand, Dr. Jo Danice Quebral Bicos, senior agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, said that their office has been conducting weekly monitoring to ensure stable prices and supplies of basic agricultural products.
Bicos noted that prices of vegetables were high in December due to the damages caused by the previous typhoons last September to November last year.
The senior agriculturist said their office will continue providing interventions and technical assistance to increase the production of vegetable farmers in the province. (OTB/TCB/PIA-2, QUIRINO)