No movement in prices of basic commodities, says DTI

BUTUAN CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Norte assured the consuming public that there was no movement in the prices of basic commodities in the city since the declaration of the State of Lawlessness in the country by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

According to DTI Agusan del Norte Consumer Welfare Division Chief Wyn Palma, this was based on the result of the monitoring they conducted immediately after the declaration until this time.

Palma clarified that the DTI is only in charge of monitoring the prices of manufactured basic commodities while the Department of Agriculture monitors the agricultural products such as rice, fish and vegetables.

Palma also clarified that the current prize freeze of basic commodities due to the declaration of the state of lawlessness will be in effect for 60 days unless the president orders it lifted within the period.

“Since the declaration of state of lawlessness was signed on September 4, 2016, the prize freeze will continue until the first week of November,” Palma said. (Maria Lourdes Pizarro-Apego)