DTI: No price hike for basic necessities, prime commodities until year-end

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday assured consumers that prices of some 204 basic necessities and prime commodities will remain unchanged until the end of the year, as agreed upon with manufacturers and retailers.

According to Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, the private sector has already agreed to keep prices of the stock keeping units (SKUs) or products under DTI purview unchanged.

“Maganda po ang relationship ng DTI at tsaka ng manufacturers and retailers (The DTI has a good relationship with manufacturers and retailers), and we all agreed to keep the prices stable until December 31, 2026,” she said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo DZBB on Friday.

The DTI has set suggested retail prices for basic necessities such as canned sardines, milk and coffee products, bread, instant noodles, salt, bottled water, detergent and laundry soap, and candles.

This also covers prime commodities such as luncheon meat, meat loaf, corned beef, beef loaf, condiments, toilet soap, and batteries.

“Based sa usapan namin, wala pong price increase. Lahat ng mga produkto na sakop nito na mino-monitor at ine-enforce ng DTI, no price increase,” Roque said.

(Based on our conversation, there will be no price increase. All products covered — those monitored and enforced by the DTI — will have no price increase.)

Roque on Friday also denied rumors of panic buying of bottled water due to concerns about the El Niño, as she said she recently visited a plant that produces 65,000 bottles per hour, one of the 200 plants of the company across the country.

Moving forward, Roque said the DTI will also release an advisory regarding Noche Buena items closer to the holiday season, as the government is still coordinating with the private sector. —LDF, GMA News