There is no monitored rise in the prices of basic and prime commodities in Canlaon City following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on June 3, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental said yesterday.

There is also enough supply of commodities in the mountain city, DTI-Negros Oriental provincial director Nimfa Virtucio assured in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

She added, however, that the supply of safe and potable drinking water needs to be addressed.

“Although not critical, we want to ensure that there will be enough potable water in Canlaon City as its ground sources are compromised by sulfur dioxide emitted by the volcano during the eruption to date,” Virtucio said.

Canlaon Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas assured the DTI that the local government has a portable water filtration that goes around the city to ensure the needs of residents are met.

Also, there are refilling stations in the lowland towns that deliver regularly to customers in the mountain city, Virtucio added.

A price freeze was ordered in Canlaon after the city government declared a state of calamity the day after the eruption.

The provincial government had already declared a state of calamity in April for 60 days due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. (PNA)