ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reassured consumers in Western Visayas of an abundant supply of essentials like candles, bottled water, and flowers for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.
In a proactive move, the DTI conducted “Operation Price Watch: Undas 2023” on Thursday morning, Oct. 26. This operation was designed to ensure that prices of goods governed by the Price Act remained within the range outlined in the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) list released earlier in February.
DTI secretary Alfredo Pascual initiated the first-ever synchronized “Undas Bantay Presyo” campaign across the nation. Collaborating with regional offices, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and local government units (LGUs), the objective is clear: price stability.
Judy Mae Sajo, DTI-6’s information officer, detailed the efforts in Iloilo led by local DTI leaders, including director Ma. Dinda Tamayo.
“From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we conducted a nationwide price watch on candles and bottled water, and we also specially monitored flower prices,” Sajo told Panay News.
She clarified that their purview on flower pricing was limited to special monitoring, as flowers are not classified as basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs).
During their rounds, DTI learned that flower supplies originated from various regions, including Benguet, Cagayan, Metro Manila, Baguio, and Cebu.
Currently, flower basket arrangements are priced at around P150.
“Expect the price to rise closer to ‘Undas’,” said Sajo.
Consumers were advised to patronize grocery stores and established market retailers, where prices are regularly monitored by the DTI, instead of ambulant vendors.
Tamayo confirmed the ample supply of candles, bottled water, and flowers.
She also said many retailers are planning to increase their stocks by Oct. 31.
“The supply for flowers is not yet that abundant since major sales will begin over the weekend,” she pointed out.
However, she did emphasize that flower prices could fluctuate based on their cost during delivery.
The DTI’s monitoring drive included visits to various points of interest like the Iloilo Central Market, flower shops, retail stores, and other commercial establishments. Tamayo reinforced the purely observational nature of their mission, emphasizing that their primary interest was ensuring supply stability.
Tamayo also reminded sellers of DTI’s unwavering commitment to price monitoring, urging them to uphold fair pricing.
Echoing the intent behind this initiative, Pascual’s “Undas Bantay Presyo” was designed as a holistic government approach to guarantee consumers’ rights.
The focus remains on monitoring, not enforcement, covering specific high-demand BNPCs like bottled water and candles during the All Souls’ Day observance.
Additionally, while flower prices were checked, the goal was to ensure they remained within a fair range. All these measures aim to uphold and prioritize the welfare and rights of consumers.
DTI encourages the public to report any practices infringing on consumer welfare to their nearest DTI offices or via the DTI hotline (DTI-1384).
