Trade dept puts resort-island under automatic price ceiling

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has placed Boracay under the Automatic Price Ceiling (APC) state.

Maria Carmen I. Iturralde, DTI-Aklan acting chief, said the APC is implemented once an area has been declared under the state of calamity.

It could be recalled that Malacañang recently declared the three barangays of Boracay—Balabag, Yapak and Manoc Manoc—under a state of calamity to give way to the rehabilitation of this resort island for six months.

“The APC means that businessmen selling basic commodities in this resort island must implement a price freeze,” Iturralde said. “They are not allowed to increase their prices on basic goods.”

She said DTI-Aklan received the communication from the DTI Central Office in Manila last Friday. Upon receiving it, DTI personnel would start distributing the fliers to all the stores in Boracay. The government agency will then conduct strict monitoring of price commodities this week, she said adding that violators will be penalized.

Meanwhile, aside from strict monitoring of price increase, the DTI is also conducting free training for entrepreneurs affected by the closure of Boracay. Iturralde said they offer training on t-shirt printing, siomai making, crafts making and waste recycling among others.