DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 November)—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao assured consumers in this city that no price increases will be implemented for Noche Buena items in the coming weeks.
Inspecting prices of several basic necessities and prime commodities in Davao City. MindaNews file photo
DTI-Davao City director Rachel Remitio said in an interview on Tuesday that the agency entered into an agreement with manufacturers and retailers to hold off price increase and to follow the price guide released last November 21 and effective until December 31.
She said the price guide intends to give consumers more buying power for the celebration of Christmas and New Year.
She said the price guide contains 240 brands of Noche Buena items, including ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, keso de bola, mayonnaise, sandwich spread, pasta or spaghetti, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and all-purpose cream.
Remitio said prior to the release of the price guide, the agency has noted marked increases in the items listed in the price guide, ranging from P1 for some items, including all-purpose cream and macaroni, and to P49 for keso de bola.
She said the agency asks the public to inform the DTI-Davao if establishments don’t follow the price guide.
Remitio said establishments would have to justify the deviation, otherwise they will be asked to remove the items off the grocery shelves if they cannot bring the costs down to the price guide level.
“We will inform the head office for them to contact the manufacturer that this retailer is selling items above the price guide because when that was released, there was consultation already down to the retailer side,” she said.
Remitio added that DTI-Davao regularly monitors 48 big establishments in the city.
In the price guide, one kilo of ham ranges from P339 to P650; a can containing 836 grams of fruit cocktail ranges from P58.95 to P89.50 while a can of 3.06 kilograms from P252.51 to P293.05; 500 grams of cheese from P117.90 to P199; 500 grams of keso de bola from P295 to P445; 470 milliliter of mayonnaise from P130.40 to P245.85; 470 ml of sandwich spread from P162.75 to 263.60; 900 grams of pasta or spaghetti from P80.55 to P113; one kilogram of elbow macaroni from P82 to P124; one kilogram of salad macaroni from P82 to P323; one kilogram of spaghetti sauce from P72 to P103; one kilogram of tomato sauce from P70 to P92.25; and 250 ml of all-purpose cream from P49 to P69.
Remitio said the agency encourages consumers to buy more affordable items.
“We added more items in the price guide because we want to provide our consumers wider selection or choices. The reason why we have the price guide is to give consumers information and for them to exercise their right of choice, and encourage that responsibility of critical awareness,” she said.
The DTI, Remitio said, is not expecting an increase in the costs of other basic necessities and prime commodities.
She said no increases have been implemented since September this year.
Remitio said items usually affected by foreign exchange include canned goods, including milk, corned beef, and meat loaf since some raw materials are imported.
“Before the manufacturers can implement the increase, it will undergo evaluation by the Price Coordinating Council. It is not just DTI but also in consolidation with the distributors, logistics providers, and retailers themselves,” she noted. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
