60-day freeze ordered on Cebu prices after quake

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it imposed a 60-day price freeze on basic necessities in Cebu following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Tuesday.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said the DTI is focused on ensuring the affordability and steady supply of essential goods.

“We recognized the heavy toll this disaster has taken on families. Beyond enforcing the price freeze, our priority is to ensure that prices and supplies are affordable and stable,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The DTI will be vigilant in (protecting) consumers from undue price increase,” she added.

The price freeze automatically took effect after the declaration of a state of calamity in the province.

In a separate statement, the Department of Tourism (DoT) advised tourists to verify the state of their destinations before traveling.

“Several tourist sites in affected areas may be closed while safety inspections are ongoing,” the DoT said on Wednesday.

“The department, through its regional offices, is working closely with concerned agencies and local government units to assess the safety of access roads and bridges, as well as the condition of affected tourism establishments and workers,” it added.

In a separate Facebook post, Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said she has directed TIEZA to deploy inspectors to assess the damage to heritage churches and key establishments in Cebu.

“These assessments will guide the next steps to ensure safety and provide appropriate support,” she added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile