San Fernando, Pampanga—An air, sea, and land command post was established in Clark, Pampanga to speed up the rescue, evacuation, and mobilization of equipment and manpower in disaster-affected areas here.
Even the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Luzon has sent eight teams to monitor the prices of basic goods and commodities in the calamity-stricken areas in the region.
The command post stationed at Clark will be supported by Philippines Air Force, Philippines Navy, National Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the regional government offices.
The command post, located at Clark’s Air Force City, is the headquarters of Philippines Air Force inside the former American airbase, complete with manpower, trucks, ambulances, and equipment for sea and land operations.
Bobby Manalo, operations officer of the regional disaster council, said the command post will be headed by Director Marlou Salazar of the RDRRMO in Central Luzon.
Manalo said the command post will cover Regions I, II and III and others affected by the three typhoons that devastated these areas in the past three weeks. Most of them are now under a state of calamity as they remain submerged in floodwaters.
The government decided to put up the organized command post to speed up assistance for the people in these areas, especially in evacuation, rescue operations, and delivering relief goods, and avert deteriorating conditions, Manalo said.
Warren Serrano, DTI spokesman in Central Luzon, said businessmen must maintain the prices of basic commodities in these areas as provided for under Republic Act. 7581 or the Price Act.
Serrano said DTI teams composed of three persons were fielded to 11 in Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.
“They will visit enterprises like malls and public markets in the calamity-stricken areas to determine the prices of bottles and containers of water, fresh fruit, locally manufactured noodles, household liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, and rice comply with the law," Serrano said.
These basic goods are important during calamities, especially to the marginalized sector, he added.
Initial reports received by Director Judith Angeles of DTI Region III showed prices of goods remained the same before the calamity period, but the agency still sent out teams as a preventive measure against unscrupulous businessmen.
After the calamities, Angeles said they will launch a discount caravan in cooperation with manufacturers in the calamity areas to give the people basic commodities at low prices.
The Price Act mandates a penalty of P2 million and up to 15 years of imprisonment against violators, as determined by a judge.