ILOILO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry in Region 6 announced on May 16 that it will impose a price freeze on basic necessities in local government units in Western Visayas placed under state of calamity.'Under Republic Act No. 7581, the Price Act, prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing rates for 60 days when an area is under a state of calamity.
It can be recalled that the provincial government of Antique declared a provincewide state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon and dry season on April 18.The price freeze also extends to in the municipalities of Sara, Estancia, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Passi City, Balasan, and Dingle in Iloilo province; San Enrique, Kabankalan City and Valladolid in Negros Occidental; and Buenavista and San Lorenzo in Guimaras.