The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will crack the whip on businessmen taking advantage of the holiday season by deploying more price monitoring teams nationwide.
In a statement, DTI undersecretary for consumer welfare Zenaida Maglaya said they were given instructions to increase the frequency of market visits not only in Metro Manila but in the provinces.
“Although the price movements of basic goods and prime commodities are generally stable, there are reports that prices are expected to spike on the weeks leading to Christmas and we don’t want this to be used as the dealers’ and retailers’ basis in jacking up the prices, “Maglaya explained.
The monitoring teams will not only conduct random checks on prices of basic commodities, they will likewise work with local government units to check on fraudulent weights and measures to ensure that consumers get a fair deal when they do business in the markets.
Maglaya said consumers must get value for money and that short-weighing of goods is a violation of the Consumer Act provisions on deceptive sales and practices.
“These are the right of every consumer, and we must protect these rights, especially in these hard times,” she noted.
Earlier, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila said prices of basic goods and commodities will remain stable in spite of the expected increase in demand as a result of the yuletide season.
“We are regularly meeting with manufacturers and retailers to ensure that there will be steady supply in the market so that increased demand will not unnecessarily pressure prices to go up,” he said.
The price of processed and manufactured commodities such as sardines, luncheon meat, corned beef remain stable.
The price of chicken is P110 to P120 a kilo in wet markets, while they are priced at P94 in supermarkets. Pork remains stable at P140.
The Soaps and Detergent Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Fish Canners, Association of Meat Processors also committed to keep their prices.