Vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged the government to impose a price freeze in areas hit by typhoon Odette.
He said this will ensure that the people will be able to buy goods at their current prices and won’t have to shell out extra money amid their dire condition.
The price freeze, the senator said, will also prevent unscrupulous traders from raking in profit and exploiting the situation.
Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act automatically imposes price control whenever there is a declaration of a state of calamity or emergency.
“However, we urge the Department of Trade and Industry not to wait for the declaration of local government units and immediately impose the price freeze given the wide area affected by the typhoon,” Pangilinan said.
“While normally, supermarkets and stores stock up on supplies during the holiday season, we could no longer guarantee the availability of adequate goods as a number of areas were submerged in floodwaters,” he added.
In this calamity, the senator noted the government must act with lightning speed to safeguard the welfare of our people and ensure they have access to basic necessities, especially for families who have lost everything to the flood.
“Our people were devastated by the typhoon so we should not allow them to be victims of high prices,” he added.