The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bohol Provincial Office declares it has consistently monitored establishments across the province following the onslaught of typhoon Odette to check on the price and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) which are crucial at this time when the province is in a state of calamity.
Hardware and construction materials are included in the monitoring as the demand for such products have risen due to the infrastructure damage caused by the typhoon.
To date, DTI has issued 76 show cause orders and 12 notice of violations (NOVs) to those who were found to be allegedly non-compliant with the price freeze order, and to retailers of hardware and construction materials who were found to have violated fair trade laws.
The DTI said formal charges have been filed to against eight (8) establishments, which were found to have violated the price law on basic necessities. On the other hand, charges have been filed against four (4) establishments which sold construction materials.
To prevent overpricing of basic necessities and construction materials in the typhoon-hit areas, DTI Bohol, through its Diskwento Caravan Program, infused supply into some municipalities. The DTI brought via the caravan, major suppliers of basic necessities and construction materials.
DTI has conducted 6 editions of the Diskwento Caravan in the following municipalities: Ubay (January 6), Talibon (January 7), Inabanga (January 8), Loboc (January 19), San Miguel (January 20), and Bien Unido (January 21).
Most of the products sold were canned goods, instant noodles, condiments, bath and detergent soaps, instant coffee, powdered milk, bottled drinking water, bread, rice, candles, galvanized iron sheets, plywoods, sakolin, and nails.
According to DTI, these activities were spearheaded by DTI Assistant Secretary for the Regional Operations Group Asteria C. Caberte and DTI Bohol Provincial Director Maria Soledad L. Balistoy with the support from the Local Government Units (LGU) of the mentioned municipalities, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The DTI added that the Diskwento Caravan aims to provide consumers with access to quality and reasonably-priced products and services in accordance to or even lower than the current prevailing prices, a move which is a big help especially in this time of calamity.
DTI declares that the office continues to do price and supply monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities under its jurisdiction; caters to concerns on consumer protection and MSME development; and provides business registration services and business advisory through its Negosyo Centers.
