The governor of Bohol, now in a state of calamity, said Tuesday his province had run out of money and asked the Duterte government to send soldiers and police to prevent looting there.
Governor Arthur Yap, in an interview on dzBB, asked the national government to send funds to enable local leaders to buy food and drinking water for the desperate population.
On nearby Negros island, Carl Arapoc, 23, told AFP there was no electricity in his city and his family was using “driftwood” to cook.
“A gallon of water used to cost P25, now it’s P50,” he complained.
In Manila, the Department of Trade and Industry is looking at reports of alleged overpricing of bottled water and generator sets ( gensets) in areas affected by Typhoon Odette.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez reported that major groceries and supermarkets in typhoon-hit areas are compliant with the suggested retail price for basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs).
“But there are reports on overpricing of bottled water and even gensets. I have instructed our Consumer Protection Group and regional offices to immediately check the retailers and apprehend business owners who are profiteering and unduly increasing prices of consumer goods especially at this time when we are recovering from the damage caused by Typhoon Odette,” he said.
“We will not allow the public to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals and we will not hesitate to file charges against these individuals to the full extent of the law,” he added.
According to CPG, violators can be fined P300,000 and imprisonment of one year for unfair and unconscionable acts or practices by sellers or suppliers.
“We ask the public to report to us the stores that are overpricing and better to show proof so we can penalize faster. The business owners should not take advantage of the already unfortunate condition of our people,” Lopez said.