Gov't declares price freeze in typhoon-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines  (Xinhua) - The Trade Department declared price freeze in Central Philippine provinces and towns severely hit by typhoon Haiyan on today.

According to the department, the areas declared under price freeze include provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros Oriental, and municipalities of Coron in Palawan; Baco, Naujan, and Calapan in Oriental Mindoro; and City of Ormoc, Leyte.  

The provinces of Bohol and Cebu, which were hit by magnitude 7. 2 earthquake last month, remain under price freeze, the department said.

Philippines' Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo reported that the supply of goods in most of the above-mentioned areas remain stable, except for some places which are difficult to access due to damaged roads, such as Roxas City, in which supplies come from Iloilo City.

The department is monitoring the condition of roads going to Tacloban and Ormoc, Leyte to see if supplies from Manila and Cebu can be delivered in the said cities, he added.

It is reported that survivors of the Typhoon Haiyan that may have killed more than 10,000 people in the Philippines were growing increasingly desperate for aid, and there were mass looting incidents in worst-hit regions such as Tacloban city, Leyte.