DTI to bashers of P500 Noche Buena: It's a sincere effort

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) defended its P500 Noche Buena price guide after critics on social media said the amount was inadequate for a Filipino family given the high prices of goods.

DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo appealed for the public’s understanding, saying that it was a “sincere effort” by the department.

“Marami po talagang nagbatikos, na sana naiintindihan nila, sana hindi nila tinake as insulto or panloloko. Sana po hindi ganoon because it is a sincere effort on the part of DTI consumer protection na bigyan natin ng advice ang consumers, ang mga mamimili at kami rin po ang nakakakita sa ground dahil kami nga ang nagmo-monitor at nage-enforce. Alam namin ang nangyayari at alam natin kung gaano na hindi po lahat ng tao ay sagana,” Castelo said in The Mangahas Interviews.

Castelo said the department releases a Noche Buena price guide every year to help consumers with their choices of products for the Christmas season.

She said the manufacturers of the Noche Buena products also advised the DTI on when they would increase prices.

“That is why noong hindi pa tayo naglalabas ng Noche Buena price guide pero nag-advise tayo sa consumers na magsimula na tayo mamili medyo naging controversial [rin],” she said.

The DTI official said they released the price guide because they thought that consumers would be “happy” that there were cheaper products available for Noche Buena.

“Ang target po sana nating makaalam nito yung mga daily wage earner lang, yung nagtatrabaho para kumain tapos magtrabaho ulit the next day. ‘Yun po yung consumer tip sana na ibibigay natin para alam nila pwede pa rin silang mag-Noche Buena kahit sa maliit na halaga lang,” she said.

“It was providing a cheaper alternative para sa consumers. Nagmagandang loob po kami, nagmagandang intention po kami para maturuan natin ito ang pwede nilang bilhin,” she added.

Castelo said the price also varies depending on the products that the consumers will buy.

“Of course pwede po mag-iba yung presyo. It can be lower, kahit P488 siya. Pwede pa nga mas mababa depende sa pipiliin ng consumer, pwede mas mataas depende sa budget ng mamimili,” she said.

The DTI had said that P500 may be enough for a family of up to five to prepare for Noche Buena.

This may be possible by buying bundled items at groceries and checking the price guides released by the DTI. — Richa Noriega/DVM, GMA Integrated News