PRICE FREEZE. Bugasong Mayor John Lloyd Pacete (center), who chairs the Local Price Coordinating Council, during their meeting where they approved the Automatic Price Ceiling (APC) following the declaration of state of calamity due to dengue outbreak in the town. Glen Fernando, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique provincial office, said on Monday (July 18, 2022) they are now preparing the APC for the province to be implemented within the week. (Photo courtesy of DTI NC Bugasong)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Automatic Price Ceiling (APC) will be implemented in the province of Antique following the declaration of state of calamity due to dengue outbreak.
Glen Fernando, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique provincial office, said in an interview on Monday they are now preparing the APC to be submitted to the Office of Governor Rhodora Cadiao for approval and implementation.
“We expect the APC to be approved and implemented provincewide within this week,” he said.
He said before the Antique provincial board declaration of state of calamity on July 14, two municipalities that had earlier made their own declarations due to the surge of dengue cases already implemented their local APCs.
He said the APC is based on the current price of basic commodities under the DTI jurisdiction before the declaration of state of calamity.
“The APC is valid for 60 days but then the provincial board that had declared the state of calamity could lift it anytime when the situation has already improved,” he said.
These towns were Sibalom that had been placed under state of calamity on June 3, and Bugasong on June 28.
Sibalom DTI Negosyo Center Business Councilor Charlyn Cagape said the APC was implemented on June 8 and so far, major retail stores in the town have complied with the APC.
“We conduct daily monitoring on five major retail stores in the municipality,” she said.
She said with the APC, a Bonus pack 555 sardines with 155 grams is still being sold at PHP16.60 each, Bear Brand powdered milk 150 grams for PHP50 each, and Lucky Me Chicken Noodles 55 grams for PHP8.25 each.
Bugasong DTI Negosyo Center Business Councilor Jenny Vi Cabayao said they are also monitoring daily the prices of commodities since the APC on July 5 a day after the Local Price Coordinating Council chaired by Mayor John Lloyd Pacete approved it.
“The retail store owners are also adherent with the APC, however, they had expressed concern that their suppliers have already informed them of their intention to implement price adjustment by next month,” she said.
Antique as of the latest available report of the Integrated Provincial Health Office on July 9 has 1,581 total cases of dengue including six deaths, which is 556 percent higher than last year’s 241 cases with two deaths. (PNA)
