Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) — The Department of Trade and Industry said “inquiry letters” have been issued for instances of overpricing in areas affected by Typhoon Odette.
“Nakapag-issue na rin tayo, base sa mga ni-report sa atin, mga 50 na explanation letters, inquiry letters. At ang kasunod po noon ay kaso pagka ito po’y hindi talaga sa atin na-explain ‘yung pagtaas ng presyo na ‘yun. At after na-apprehend sila, kino-correct nila (ang presyo),” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly Talk to the People address.
[Translation: We have issued, based on reports, around 50 explanation letters, inquiry letters. Cases would follow these if they cannot sufficiently explain why they raised prices. And after they are apprehended, they correct the prices.]
In his report, Lopez said 50 letters were issued in Bohol and two in Cebu. Another eight were issued in Northern Mindanao, while seven show cause orders were issued in Misamis Oriental.
Lopez did not say what the current status of these letters are.
Apprehensions were also made, Lopez added, mentioning instances of overpricing in Bohol and Cebu but said once caught, sellers corrected their prices.
On Dec. 21, President Duterte declared a state of calamity in six regions in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. A state of calamity would allow local governments to tap their respective calamity funds to help typhoon-hit communities. It would also automatically freeze the prices of basic goods in these areas.
Lopez also said that during visits to regions affected by the storm, assessments were made to determine which small businesses needed the most help.
“Ang estimate namin mga 2,000 ang magiging beneficiary per province… Estimate po mga ₱20 million allocation per province. So, total po, immediately mga ₱100 to ₱150 million ang ating magiging initial assistance,” he said.
[Translation: We estimate around 2,000 beneficiaries per province… The estimate is a P20 million allocation per province. So, the total immediately is a P100 to P150 million initial assistance.]
Lopez said they can immediately give ₱8.2 million for livelihood assistance and would start with 300 profiled micro businesses in Siargao to receive livelihood assistance worth P8,000 per beneficiary.
DTI Sec. Lopez says they can immediately give ₱8.2 million for livelihood assistance: And we will start with the 300 na profiled SMEs – micro – dito sa Siargao…to receive livelihood assistance na ₱8,000 worth ng mga livelihood kits per beneficiary. pic.twitter.com/ONQeoGPzzN
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 27, 2021
