DTI to finalize list of noche buena items with price hike

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Saturday said it might finalize over the weekend the list of noche buena items that will get a price increase.

“Ito pong darating na linggo maaring ma-finalize namin. Actually, nag-tawag nga ako ng meeting ulit next week, itong darating na linggo, itong week na ‘to, para ma-desisyonan kung ano man, kung sino man ang papayagan natin diyan,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Lopez said it was normal for brands to request price hikes during the Christmas season. He advised the public to carefully choose what brands to buy.

“Nakita naman natin pag Pasko may mga promo pa, may naka bundle-bundle diyan. Ang advice natin sa consumer, pumili sila ng ika nga value for money, ‘yung sulit ika nga,” he said.

“Ang nag price increase usually mga limang brand lang ‘yan out of 20 plus brands na naka kalat naman diyan kaya piliin natin ‘yung hindi nag increase o kaya ‘yung sa tingin natin sulit o reasonable,” he added.

The secretary also assured that price hikes will be reasonable.

“[H]indi naman mag tataas ‘yan such that hindi na sila mabibili. Kunyari hamon ‘yan. Ang hamon kailangan mabenta nila ngayon taon kung hindi isang taon na naman ‘yan bago ma-benta dahil hindi naman ‘yan bibilhin after Christmas,” Lopez said.

“Kaya ‘yung mga manufacturer ingat din mag-price increase ‘yan. Gusto rin nila gumalaw… mabenta rin ‘yung kanilang produkto,” he added. -Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News