The Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III (DTI-3) recently said that the increase in prices of some basic and prime commodities under its Suggested Retail Price list is only minimal. DTI-3 Regional Director Leonila T. Baluyut further said that the price increase of 59 items in the SRP list was already necessary considering the increase in prices of raw materials and packaging. She added that the last approved increase in the prices of basic needs and prime commodities in the SRP list was on September 2019, or almost two years ago.
Based on the updated SRP list, minimal price increases were registered in some brands of the following items: canned sardines in tomato sauce – 3 to 5% or Php 0.50 to 0.75, condensed milk – 1 to 3% or Php 0.5 to 1.25, evaporated milk – 1 to 5% or PHp 0.25 to 1.00, powdered milk – 1 to 2% or Php 0.5 to 1.35, coffee refill – 2% or Php 0.30 to 0.60, coffee 3 in 1 original – 3 to 7% or Php 0.15 to 0.50, instant noodles – 3 to 6% or Php 0.25 to 0.40, rock salt – 6 to 17% or Php 0.20 to 2.85, Chinese style luncheon meat – 5% or Php 1.75, meat loaf – 2 to 9% or Php 0.45 to 1.50, corned beef – 2 to 10% or Php 0.75 to 2.50, beef loaf – 3 to 9% or Php 0.55 to 1.50, vinegar – 7 to 12% or Php 0.45 to 1.80, Patis – 6 to 12% or Php 0.60 to 3.10, soy sauce – 6 to 12% or Php 0.55 to 2.15, detergent soap – 3 to 5% or Php 0.5 to 1.0, candles – 15% or 5.75 to 21.25 and toilet soap – 1% or Php 0.25.
The manufacturers that requested for the price increase cited reasons such as the increased price of imported raw materials such as milk, palm oil, wheat and seasoning. Candle manufacturers cited increase in price of paraffin wax while other manufacturers cited increase in price of chemicals and packaging materials.
Director Baluyut nevertheless said that she has already instructed the seven provincial offices of DTI in Central Luzon to closely monitor the compliance of retail establishments to the new SRP list issued by the agency. She added that the DTI regularly conducts price and supply monitoring of groceries, supermarkets and other retail establishments. She also requested the public to report any unreasonable increase in prices of basic and prime commodities in the market to the DTI hotline 1-384 or send a message to the official social media pages of DTI Region 3 using the handle : DTI Region 3 – Central Luzon or text its hotline 09178343330.
