Price hike looms for Noche Buena items, says DTI

The cost of some Noche Buena items will increase ahead of the Christmas celebration, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, the DTI said they are currently studying whether to release a price guide.

However, some manufacturers have released advisories in which the price of ham increased to P40.

“Kinakausap pa naman yung mga manufacturers para din naman number 1, kung pwede itemper yung increase kung possible pa po yun. Yung submitted sa amin walang lumampas ng P50. Meron pa ngang may decrease,” Ann Claire Cabochon, officer-in-charge of DTI Consumer Protection Group, said.

Prices of ham in Quiapo increased due to rising prices of ingredients and raw materials.

“Tumaas kasi ang asukal, yung mga ginagamit sa paggawa ng ham tapos yung mga plastic, ganun,” an Excelente Ham store supervisor said.

The prices of Chinese ham increased to P1,640 from P1,540 last year, while  scrap ham increased to P1,560 from P1,520 last year.

Meanwhile, the prices of American ham in Trabaho market also increased to P220 from P200 per kilo.

“Dito po kasi pwede tingi, doon po kasi sa iba isang pack po talaga,” said retailer Almira Loreca.

The prices of cream increased to P8 to P15, while salad and elbow macaroni also increased to P4 to P27.

The prevailing price of white sugar in Metro Manila stood at P106 in grocery and supermarket, while P100 in markets.

The UNIFED appealed to increase the suggested retail price of white sugar to P85 to P90 from P70 per kilo after the recent typhoons affected their crops.

GMA Integrated News has sought comment from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

The DTI said there are grocery and supermarkets which sell P70 per kilo of sugar.

“Yung inventory nung naikutan natin ay wala na po. In other branches of the same supermarket alam natin meron naman po depende lang kung saan sila nakalocate,” Cabochan said. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News