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MANILA, Aug. 7 (PNA) -- President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor the prices of basic goods to prevent profiteers from taking advantage of the disruption of some deliveries because of the widespread flooding in Metro Manila and large parts of Luzon.

Presiding over a meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo, the President said the DTI should be on the lookout for unwarranted price increases and possible hoarding of basic commodities such as rice and sugar.

The DTI reported that prices of some wet goods have risen, including saltwater fish, which junked up by between P10 to P40.

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said vegetable prices have also gone up between P10 to P20.

Meanwhile, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. president Steven Cua said the prices of dry goods sold in groceries and supermarkets remain stable.

He said supermarket deliveries are affected only if prolonged rains or catastrophe affect production.

By PNA