TYPHOON ZONE. Motorcycles pass by damaged businesses along a major street in Maasin City, Southern Leyte on Dec. 17, 2021, a day after Typhoon Odette's landfall. About 405 business establishments in Southern Leyte were damaged by the typhoon, the Department of Trade and Industry reported Thursday (Jan. 6, 2022).(Photo courtesy of Christopher Dy-Liacco Flores) TACLOBAN CITY - Typhoon Odette destroyed about 405 business establishments in Southern Leyte, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported Thursday, citing initial survey results. The team from the DTI surveyed the establishments in the province and found that 57 percent were wrecked and 43 percent were damaged. Those surveyed account for 10 percent of firms operating within the commercial districts of Maasin City and the towns of Padre Burgos, Liloan, Sogod, and Macrohon. "The surveyed establishment, including available stocks, infrastructure, other assets, and the expenses for cleaning up the debris, incurred a t
(Photo courtesy of PCADG Visayas) MANILA - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos on Sunday night alerted police units to be on the lookout against unscrupulous traders and businessmen who may take advantage of Typhoon Odette's aftermath to hike prices of basic goods in calamity-hit areas. This, after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said an automatic price freeze is imposed in areas placed under a state of calamity. The local governments of Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Occidental have declared a state of calamity in the aftermath of 'Odette'. Aside from post-disaster relief and rehabilitation operations and disaster management measures being carried out by the PNP, police units in the regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels were given added duties to monitor prices of goods in their respective areas to ensure proper implementation of Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act. Sections 6 and 7 of the law expressly provide that &q