DTI assessing if new SRP is in order

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is studying the possibility of releasing new suggested retail prices (SRPs) of basic goods in light of seven consecutive weeks of fuel price rollbacks.

“Actually po, ang DTI ay gumagawa ngayon ng pag-aaral para makita natin kung ano ang magiging epekto ng pag ganda ng ating ekonomiya, particularly ito ngang foreign exchange at ito ngang presyo ng langis,” said Assistant Director Lilian Salonga of DTI’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau in an interview on GMA News’ “Balitanghali” Monday.

“Maglalabas po kami ng bagong bulletin ng aming suggested retail price para mareflect ‘yung pwede nating makita na paggalaw ng presyo,” Salonga said.

“Hinahanap namin sa aming pagsusuri ano pa 'yung direct production cost na puwede nating makita na makakaapekto ng pagbaba ng presyo ng mga bilihin.”

Over the weekend, several oil companies announced that they are rolling back pump prices starting Tuesday, Nov. 27.

DTI officials are monitoring retailers if they are heeding the government’s SRP.

“Araw-araw po 'yan umiikot sa ating pamilihan para matiyak na ang ating mga tindahan ay nagcocomply sa ating itinakdang SRP,” she said.

Salonga noted that prices of some Noche Buena products went up and others are steady.

“Ito pong Noche Buena product ay may separate pong SRP bulletin. As early as October po kasi nakipagugnayan na kami sa mga manufacturers para tiyakin na ang presyo po nito ay ‘di na po gagalaw,” Salonga said.

“Meron po tayong mga items na nagkaroon ng pagtaas pero the same bracket po. For example, ang hamon. Meron pong produkto na nagtaas ng three percent pero may mga items na nagbaba pa ng presyo o ‘di ginalaw ang presyo at all,” she added.

In October, the DTI released the SRP on Noche Buena items to ensure that consumers pay the right price. —Anna Felicia Bajo/VDS, GMA News