THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has received a notice of price adjustment from the manufacturers of sardines, meat loaf, corned beef, coffee, and soap.
The DTI said it is studying the matter but it will strive to make the items still reasonably priced for the benefit of consumers, according to a report on GMA Integrated News’ āSaksiā.
It was in August 2022 when the DTI last issued a suggested retail price (SRP) guide for some items.
On Friday, Jan. 13, DTI secretary Alfredo Pascual and Sen. Mark Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, went to some supermarkets in Makati City to conduct an inspection.
They found out that the items being sold followed the SRP or were even lower.
Pascual and Villar also went to Guadalupe Market to check on the products of agricultural products.
The DTI secretary said they want to make a database to closely monitor the demand and supply of agricultural items.
“Ilan ba talagang toneladang sibuyas ang naha-harvest natin? At ilan ang demand total? Ilan ang shortage na kailangang ma-meet at kung sakali ng import? So kailangan gagawing digitalized system ‘yan,” Pascual said.
“Kung may buffer stock na kontrolado ng gobyerno, ang tingin ko, ‘yung mga traders hindi magkakalakas loob na mag-hoard at mag-manipulate ng price,” he added.
Villar said they will next inspect wholesalers.
“Ang next naming bibisitahin ay ang mga wholesalers para ma-trace namin kung saan nagkakaroon ng malaking pagtaas ng presyo,” Villar told reporters.
“Ang babantayan natin ‘yung mga nasa lower price ranges kasi ‘yon ang mga binibili ng mga karaniwang mamimili. Pag-aaralan naman namin kung kayang ma-absorb ‘yung presyo,” Pascual said.
According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), farmgate prices of onions in some areas are slowly going down and will soon be felt in Metro Manila.
“Sa Bayambang [sa Pangasinan], ‘yung pula [na sibuyas], P140 to P160 [per kilo]. May puti [na sibuyas] na P110 to P120 [per kilo],” SINAG chairman Rosendo So said.
“Mag-start kasi ang ani ng Pangasinan ng pula is third week of January. So umpisa ngayon may konti. Pero towards February, ‘yun ang medyo malaki. Itong last week of the month ine-expect mga 6,000 metric tons ang galing Pangasinan,” he added. (GMA News)
