The prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) in areas affected by tropical storms Nando and Opong remain stable , the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said yesterday
Citing its latest situational report, the DTI Regional Operations Group said that provinces and municipalities placed under a State of Calamity (SOC) are still experiencing stable supply with no reports of delivery delays or panic buying.
“Currently, a 60-day price freeze is in effect in the entire provinces of Cagayan, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Biliran, and Romblon, as well as the municipalities of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, Dagupan in Pangasinan, Calbayog and San Vicente in Samar, and Ibajay in Aklan,” the DTI said in a statement.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, meanwhile, said that despite partial business closures in Masbate, most markets, groceries, and supermarkets in the affected areas remain operational, with consumer volume returning to normal levels.
The DTI said it continues to coordinate with distributors and retailers to guarantee stable supply of BNPCs, and reiterates that violators of the automatic price freeze face penalties of one to ten years imprisonment and fines ranging from P5,000 to P1,000,000.
“Protecting every Filipino consumer will always be our top priority,” Roque declared. “Despite the impact of the storms, we assure the public that prices of essential goods will remain stable and consistently accessible. Our regional and provincial monitors are on the ground daily to safeguard market stability.”
The Philippine Statistics Authority meanwhile, said a kilogram of regular milled rice had an average retail price of P40.11 in the second half of September, lower than its average retail price in the first two weeks of P40.31 per kilogram.
A kilogram of galunggong in the country had an average retail price of P232.37 during the second phase of September 2025 in the country. This was higher than the average retail price of P231.11 per kilogram in the first phase of September 2025. Similarly, this was higher than the average retail price of P228.08 per kilogram in the second phase of August 2025.
A kilogram of cabbage, meanwhile, had an average retail price of P111.26 per kilo compared to P123.15 per kilo.
Hawaiian ginger averaged P177.81 per kilo compared to P181.50 per kilo; while calamansi was averaging P82.25 per kilo compared to P84.18 per kilogram in the first two weeks of September.
A kilo of refined sugar was recorded at an average retail price of P83.75 per kilo, lower than the P83.96 per kilo average retail prices in the first two weeks of September.
