SEN. Francis “Tol” Tolentino’s urgent call to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for price control, in the face of a severe dry spell has been approved, as confirmed on Friday (May 10) by DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Marie Nograles.

“With the positive response of the DTI to our suggestion to impose price control because of El Niño, the prices of certain commodities will be controlled even without the government declaration of a state of calamity,” Tolentino said.

Nograles informed Tolentino that the DTI immediately called for a meeting to look into price control by freezing the prices of some commodities and invited manufacturers to get their response.

“Yan po ang napag-usapan namin kung pwedeng magkaroon ng parang voluntary price freeze ang mga manufacturers bilang isang form ng bayanihan dahil meron tayong pinagdaraanan na El Niño, at saka ito nga na inflation natin,” she said.

Nograles thanked Tolentino for suggesting a price freeze on some commodities because the consumers are feeling the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon, while the government has not declared a state of calamity.

The DTI executive revealed that three manufacturers of bottled water, canned goods, and frozen milk have already committed to a voluntary price freeze on their products.

She said they expect more manufacturers to impose a price freeze on their products voluntarily and that they will announce the full list next week.

AUTHOR PROFILE

People's Tonight