MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is still studying the applications of manufacturers of Noche Buena goods for possible price adjustments for these seasonal products.
During the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, DTI Assistant Secretary Ann Claire Cabochan said the department is in close coordination with the manufacturers regarding the supply and prices of products for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
Cabochan said the DTI has requested the manufacturers to temper their price increases despite the rising oil and transportation costs, as well as the depreciation of the peso to ensure that Noche Buena products remain affordable for Filipinos.
“We are just coordinating very closely with the manufacturers para po kung mayroon nagkakaroon ng mga increases because of, you know, madaming factors (so that if there are increases because of many factors) – oil, transportation cost, and the like, even foreign exchange – that those increases are tempered. At kung pupuwede napapakiusapan din naman as we had in the past, may mga manufacturers tayo talaga na hindi nagmu-move iyong prices ng kanilang mga produkto (And if we can ask them as we had in the past, we have manufacturers who do not move the prices of their products),” she said.
Cabochan added that all “applications are being studied at this time” and the DTI would soon be issuing the suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin for Noche Buena products.
She also assured an ample supply of Noche Buena goods during the coming holidays. (PNA)
