DTI flags Balintawak market vendors selling overpriced Noche Buena items

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued show-cause orders against vendors at the Balintawak market in Quezon City after Noche Buena items supposedly went beyond the suggested retail price (SRP).

"Inisyuhan na sila ng show-cause order at nangako naman sila na ibabalik nila ito sa presyo ng SRP, o mababa pa dun," Trade Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group Teodoro Pascua said in an interview on GMA News' "Unang Balita" Thursday.

A small can of fruit cocktail was up P2 at P77. All-purpose creamer, an ingredient in making fruit salad, increased by P5 per 250-gram pack to P52.

"Bagamat mayroon kaming mga natanggap na balita dito sa Balintawak, agad naming pinapunta ang aming mga monitors at tinanong sila bakit may nagtitinda na higit sa SRP. At ang unang sinabi nila ay hindi nila alam na na-release na 'yung SRP," Pascua said.

"'Yung iba ay kumukuha sa pangatlo o pangalawang middleman na kaya wala na sila magawa kundi taasan ang presyo," he added.

The SRP for Noche Buena items, which include ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, keso de bola, pasta, macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and creamer can be accessed on the DTI's website.

"Mayroon kaming pinublish na, noong first two Sundays ng Nobyembere sa mga broadsheets," Pascua said.

For farm products, the Trade official said the Department of Agriculture is the agency in charge of price monitoring.

"Ngunit pag lumalampas ito doon sa mga na-obserbahan nating prevailing price, kami rin ay nagno-notify at nagtutulungan kami ng DA para ipaalam sa ating mga manininda na kailangang ibaba nila ito doon sa prevailing price lang natin," he said. — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News