18 areas still under state of calamity

Eighteen provinces remained under a state of calamity due to the El Niño, which has reportedly ravaged some P6 billion worth of crops so far this year.

These areas, which were also automatically placed under a price freeze for 60 days, were identified as Palawan, Guimaras, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Basilan, Maguindanao and Butuan City. Majority of the areas placed under a state of calamity were in Mindanao where the El Niño has been causing food insecurity.

Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said in a briefing Monday that their latest monitoring activities in these areas showed the prices of basic goods and prime commodities were stable as supply remained sufficient.

The only exception was Bukidnon where 27 out of the 68 establishments inspected were issued show-cause orders for selling basic necessities at higher than the suggested retail prices (SRP).

Basic goods include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry bar, candles, bread, salt, instant noodles and bottled water. Prime commodities would include flour, canned pork, chicken and beef, vinegar, fish sauce, soy sauce, bath soap, paper, school supplies, cement, clinker, GI sheets, hollow blocks, construction materials, batteries, electrical supplies, light bulbs and steel wires.

In a related development, Dimagiba disclosed that prices of school supplies increased this year due to rising costs of raw materials and foreign currency adjustments.

According to Dimagiba, the prices of Best Buy brand of notebooks increased by 4 percent this year, while those of crayons rose by about 8 to 18 percent. Certain brands of pencils, ballpens and erasers have similarly increased in prices as well.

According to Dimagiba, the Department of Trade and Industry planned to release a more detailed SRP for school supplies, which would show the different brands and their prices, from the most affordable to the most expensive ones. This was meant to raise the awareness of consumers regarding the options they have for the coming school year.

Based on the latest SRP provided by the DTI, the price of notebooks should range from P10 to P31; pad papers, P9 to P41.75; crayons, P10.75 to P58.75; pencils, up to P30.75 for a three-piece pack, and erasers, from P5 to P8.

Dimagiba added that the prices of construction materials have also remained stable despite the rise in infrastructure activities. The products monitored included cement, common wire nails, steel wire, GI sheet, steel bars and electrical supplies. Amy R. Remo