SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has imposed the Automatic Price Control (APC) for basic necessities in the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique’s capital town, following its declaration of the state of calamity due to African Swine fever (ASF).
The declaration is in consonance with the approval of the Sangguniang Bayan of San Jose de Buenavista of Resolution No. 223 series of 2023, dated July 24.
With this, the DTI then enforced the APC for a period of 60 days in accordance with the provisions of RA 7581, also known as the Price Act of the Philippines.
Arnel Oliveros of the DTI Antique said that the basic necessities falling under the jurisdiction of the agency include canned sardines, processed milk, coffee, detergent/laundry soap, candles, salt, bread, bottled water, and instant noodles.
The imposed APC is based on the prevailing prices of commodities monitored prior to the declaration of the state of calamity.
"Daily monitoring will be consistently conducted to ensure compliance of retailers and safeguard the welfare of consumers," said Oliveros.
As per the latest record of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (ProVet), ASF has affected 21 out of 28 barangays of San Jose with reported swine deaths of 1,355 heads, affecting about 244 hog raisers and more than P14 million estimated cost of damages.
ProVet also reported more than P57 million cost of damages with around 6,000 swine deaths from the towns of Hamtic, San Jose, Belison, and Sibalom, including the Antique Swine Production and Artificial Insemination Center located in Brgy. Pangpang, Sibalom.
Hamtic is the first town in the province hit by ASF sometime in May, with more than P42 million cost of total damage. (AGP/PSM/PIA Antique with reports from DTI and ProVet)