DTI negotiating with manufacturers not to raise prices ahead of Christmas

Seventy-seven days before Christmas, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is negotiating with manufacturers not to increase prices ahead of the holidays.

"Every year they always ask for increase, parang normal na ata yun na hiling nila [it seems like that has become a normal request for them], but this time we are asking them na no price increase," Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said. 
 
Increase in prices of inputs such as ingredients and labor costs are some of the reasons often cited by manufacturers to justify price hikes, but DTI said some manufacturers have already agreed not to raise prices.

A certain ham manufacturer, for example, even agreed to lower prices. "Meron akong nakakausap [I spoke with some] that will not have any price increase. Meron isa na mag ro-rollback [In fact one will roll back prices], so that's actually good news," Roque said. 

DTI is expected to release a Noche Buena price guide in the next two weeks, before November.

Meanwhile, during the market monitoring conducted by DTI and the Taguig City government also on Thursday, Rogue noted that prices were stable, with many items being sold at even lower prices than what is one DTI's suggested retail prices guide. — BM, GMA Integrated News