ECUADOR ADOPTS AUSTERITY PROGRAM Ecuador announced an austerity program and a price freeze on key consumer goods as a result of last week's earthquake which killed at least 300 people. Presidency Minister Patricio Quevedo said in a televised address that the budget would be cut by five to 10 pct, government hiring would be frozen and salaries of top officials, including the president and cabinet, would be reduced. He also said a price freeze would be imposed on 20 basic consumer items, mainly food staples, while the price of petrol would rise by between 69 and 80 pct and bus fares would rise by 20 pct. Petrol supplies would also be limited. Information Ministry officials said the price freeze was aimed at protecting poor Ecuadoreans from a wave of specualtion. Violators would be severely punished, according to the price freeze order, signed by five cabinet ministers. The items for which prices were frozen included rice, sugar, cooking oil, potatoes, salt, wheat flour, cigarettes, soft drinks, school supplies and several kinds of vegetables. Ecuador's consumer price inflation was 23 pct in 1986. The price of 92-octane petrol rises to 110 sucres a U.S. Gallon from 65 sucres. Eighty-octane petrol increases to 90 sucres from 50.