BACOLOD CITY – A price freeze on basic necessities has been implemented in three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental which are under a state of calamity due to drought brought by the El Niño phenomenon.

Lynna Joy Cardinal, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, said on Friday, May 17, that a 60-day price freeze is being implemented in Kabankalan City, San Enrique and Villadolid.

The price freeze does not cover yet San Carlos City which, according to Cardinal, has not forwarded to the DTI a copy of the declaration of a state of calamity.

The price freeze, she said, covers commodities commonly used by consumers.

The implementation of a price freeze in a certain locality is in accordance with the Price Act of the Philippines.

The duration of the price freeze in San Enrique actually started on April 8 and will last up to June 7. Kabankalan City started the implementation on April 18 up to June 17 while Valladolid started on May 1 and will last up to June 30, 2024.

The DTI in Western Visayas reported that a total of 31 LGUs are under a price freeze either due to El Niño or pertussis outbreak.

Out of the 31 declarations of a state of calamity from March 13 to May 1, 30 are due to El Niño and one is due to pertussis outbreak.

Under Republic Act 7581, or the Price Act, prices of basic necessities are automatically put on "freeze" at their prevailing rates for 60 days when an area is under a state of calamity, the agency said.

This measure aims to protect consumers from undue price increases during calamities.

Meanwhile, Cardinal said prices of basic commodities in Negros Occidental have not increased.

"They have suggested retail prices and [are] regulated by their competitions," she pointed out.

She added that prices in the province are currently stable.