It’s that time of the year to start filling the pantry with everything needed for that traditional Noche Buena feast.
However, the excitement is mixed with apprehensions.
The public is worried of another looming increase in the prices of basic and prime commodities this December as it usually does.
An official of the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) said that the Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) is yet to release suggested retail prices (SRPs) of the products for Noche Buena.
Jennifer Glimada, focal person for price monitoring of DTI 11, said SRPs were hiked thrice this year in January, May, and August.
Glimada said companies opted to increase the SRPs of their products due to the cost of raw materials, distribution costs, and packaging costs.
“Tanan apil na sa pag analyze sa SRP. Wala ta gabutang kung pila ang ilang i-increase, ang sa atoa sa DTI kung pila. Ang dapat reasonable ang ilahang increases ug dili dapat mahal na maipit ang consumers. Dapat pantay siya para sa tanan,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Friday.
Glimada said that based on their analysis there are 67 SKUs (products) under their monitoring wherein SRPs were increased SRP while there are 151 SKUs that maintain their SRPs since May this year.
“Katong 151 na items/products atong May wala nalihok ang presyo apan ang 67 na produkto ang nag increase of about 3.29 percent up to 10 percent kay kato sila na mga items wala to sila nag increase ug presyo since last year. Katong 3 to 10 percent na increase ang basis ato is katong 2021 pa nila na presyo karon lang silang August nag increase,” she explained.
Glimada assured that establishments in Davao City are compliant with the new SRP. She added that although there were increases in the products in Davao City, they are usually still within the SRP.
Under DTI 11 necessities include bread, canned fish, water (bottled-mineral, purified, and distilled), processed milk (condensed milk and evaporated milk) and powdered milk, instant noodles, coffee refills, salt, laundry soaps, and candles while for prime commodities include meatloaf, beef loaf, luncheon meat, corned beef, condiments, and toilet soaps.
