Supply, prices of bottled water to be steady — DTI

MANILA, Philippines — The public can expect the prices and supply of bottled water to be steady until May amid the ongoing water shortage, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been given assurances by beverage makers in the country.

“We are pleased to report to the consuming public that the BIAP (Beverage Industry Association of the Philippines) assured the DTI that there will be no increase in the prices of potable bottled water and that supplies are sufficient until the projected end of our water situation in May 2019,” said Ruth Castelo, undersecretary for the consumer protection group at the DTI.

Castelo met with the BIAP last Monday to discuss the prices and supply of bottled water as Metro Manila is experiencing water shortage.

BIAP members present at the meeting include Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Universal Robina Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Philippine Spring Water Resources and Zest-O Corp.

Castelo said the DTI welcomes the BIAP’s move to exercise social responsibility as such would help ease the plight of consumers facing water supply shortage.

“DTI is taking a proactive stance on the prices and supply of potable bottled water being a basic necessity under the jurisdiction of the agency even before it becomes an issue. We are grateful for the cooperation and support extended by the BIAP to the government, thus making our efforts more responsive to the needs of the consumers,” she said.

As the DTI received numerous reports of retailers taking advantage of the water shortage by selling pails and dippers at high prices, the agency decided to include the two products in its monitoring and enforcement activities.

By including pails and dippers in the DTI’s regular price and supply monitoring and enforcement activities, the agency wants to make sure prices would remain stable and consumer interest is protected.

East zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. said earlier that the water supply situation in Metro Manila should improve in the coming weeks.

The company said it has brought back supply to about 90 percent of its customers.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles has also said an executive order that seeks to address the water crisis and to make the National Water Resources Board a body responsible for crafting policies on water-related issues is currently being finalized.