ILOILO City – The prices of basic necessities and prime commodities remain stable notwithstanding the series of fuel price increases since January this year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Iloilo.
But an impending fuel price hike this week would have a profound effect if reports were true that the price of gasoline would jump by P3 per liter and diesel by P5 per liter, said DTI-Iloilo director Felisa Judith Degala
Basic necessities refer to rice, corn and bread; fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products; fresh pork, beef and poultry meat; fresh eggs, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap and detergents, among others.
Prime commodities, on the other hand, refer to fresh fruits; dried, processed and canned pork, beef and poultry; meat, dairy products not falling under basic necessities; noodles, onions, garlic, diapers, herbicides; and poultry, swine and cattle feeds, among others.
So far, according to Degala, DTI-Iloilo’s price monitoring showed no huge jump in the prices of goods. Current prices are still within the department’s suggested retail price (SRP).
Of the 216 basic and prime commodities monitored in supermarkets and retailer stores, the prices of 143 items stayed the same; 43 items had price increases of between six to 10 percent; and 10 items had price increases over 10 percent.
“Ang gin-cite nga reason sang mga manufacturers for the price increase amo ang increase in the prices of major raw materials and packaging materials” and not the fuel price increase, Degala told Panay News.
However, the DTI-Iloilo director warned, sustained increases in fuel prices could in the long run have an effect on the distribution cost of manufacturers, which in turn the could pass this on to the prices of goods.
“Kon i-distribute sang manufacturers to the market sa lain-lain nga lugar, may distribution cost sa fuel. So, may posible nga epekto but as to how much wala pa nabal-an,” said Degala.
But she clarified that the biggest determining factor in the increase in the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities are the raw materials and packaging.
“Ang fuel is not really very significant considering that kon mag-produce ang aton manufacturers sang basic necessities and prime commodities, volume man ang production. Whatever cost nga gin-incur sa fuel gina-distribute per item, so indi man gid tama kadaku sang epekto,” Degala explained.
She revealed that several manufacturers have pending petitions at the National Price Coordinating Council for higher SRP due to increases in the prices of raw materials and packaging.
DTI is a member of the National Price Coordinating Council.
Degala said the council is carefully evaluating each petition and if a manufacturer’s request is approved, it will take 30 days before it takes effect./PN
