THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities have agreed to not raise prices for the time being.
“With regard to the suggested retail prices (SRP), there will be no price increase because we had good talks with the manufacturer. They are very cooperative,” Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque told BusinessWorld.
She said some manufacturers have filed requests to raise prices with the DTI.
“Of course, we have to expect that (there will be requests) because the prices of raw materials are going up. But for now, there is no price increase,” she added.
On Feb. 6, the department released its last SRP bulletin covering 191 stock-keeping units across 28 categories.
In the bulletin, 40% of the products posted price increases, while prices declined for 3%. Some 56% were unchanged while one decreased in quantity while holding prices steady.
Ms. Roque had no updates regarding the streamlining of the SRP bulletin.
The DTI in July 2024 said that it is proposing to delist some of the products being monitored in the SRP bulletin.
The delisting was intended to leave sardines, powdered milk, bread, laundry soap, instant noodles, processed and canned pork, beef, poultry meat, and toilet soap in the SRP bulletin. — Justine Irish D. Tabile