LEGAZPI CITY — Acting Gov. Glenda Ong-Bongao of Albay has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enforce price freeze in the province amid delays in the delivery of food, petroleum products and drinking water due to damaged highways.

The governor was prompted to seek DTI intervention as basic necessities are running low in the province, fearing that businessmen might take advantage of the situation as most areas are still reeling from the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Reports had it that Albay, specially Legazpi City, has already experienced shortage of petroleum products and food supply as the deliveries of goods from Metro Manila were stranded in highways that are still impassable due to high flooding.

Truckers remain stranded in the province of Camarines Sur due to severe flooding.

Bongao also asked the Department of Agriculture to check the prices of agricultural products and work closely with DTI to ensure the stability of prices and food supply.

On Saturday, the governor received P50 million in financial aid for relief efforts from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who personally visited the Bicol Region to assess the extent of Kristine's damage.

In her report to the President, Bongao said the storm left an estimated P1.39 billion damages to roads and bridges, and affected over 92,000 families.

The Chief Executive also handed P30 million to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion.

Agricultural damage was pegged at P10.1 million.

The provincial government has allocated a quick response fund of P46,540,583 to address the immediate needs of 92,022 families affected by the severe tropical storm.

Bongao expressed gratitude to Marcos for extending a hand to the Albayanos.

"On behalf of the provincial government of Albay (PGA), I personally received a donation from the Office of the President amounting to 50 million pesos. This amount is intended for relief operations and other post-calamity-related expenses," the governor said.

"I instructed the Apsemo, PSWDO, and Local Finance Committee to coordinate with the 18 LGUs of Albay regarding the utilization of this donation. Rest assured that the PGA will be transparent on various donations for the PGA," Bongao said.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the DSWD is delivering 35,000 food packs to Naga City.

He said the food packs will be sourced from DSWD's regional warehouses, with the agency and the city coordinating on additional support as more supplies arrive from Manila and Cebu.

The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol reported that 473,920 families or 2,236,608 Bicolanos were affected by Kristine. Currently 75,952 families or 288,978 persons inside the 4,378 evacuation centers.

A total of 28,479 families or 104,153 persons are still outside the evacuation camps. Kristine left 24 deaths in the Bicol Region, specifically from Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Naga City, with two fishermen still missing.