MANUFACTURERS of essential goods are “open” to not raising their prices as the country wrestles with the impact of El Niño, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
The DTI said Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual had a series of discussions with manufacturers on a possible price freeze.
Representatives from leading manufacturers and retailers expressed openness to explore a voluntary price freeze on essential goods to ease the burden on Filipino families, the DTI said.
“Naiintindihan namin ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga pamilyang Pilipino dahil sa El Niño. Nakatutok ang DTI sa pagtiyak na tama ang presyo ng mga bilihin, pagprotekta sa kapakanan ng mga konsyumer, at pagsiguro na ang mga retailer ay responsible sa maayos na pagpapatakbo ng kanilang negosyo,” Pascual said, according to the statement issued by DTI on Thursday, May 9.
The DTI said it met with industry key players such as Monde Nissin Corporation, Unilever Philippines, Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Universal Robina Corporation, Nestle Philippines Inc., Procter and Gamble Philippines, Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., Alaska Milk Corporation, CDO Foodsphere, Nutri Asia, SM Supermarket, and Robinsons Supermarket.
More than a hundred local government units have already declared a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Niño in their areas.
Under the law, prices of basic necessities in calamity-hit areas are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for up to 60 days. (ABS-CBN News)
