No price hike on basic necessities until year-end, DTI says

Metro Manila, Philippines — Prices of basic necessities will not increase until year-end, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday, Nov. 28.

The DTI has a list of suggested retail prices for basic necessities that cover some canned products, milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, bottled water, and other condiments and household products. [embed: ]

“First and foremost, for the prices for basic necessities, no price increase until the end of the year,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a Malacañang briefing.

“And then, for the noche buena [Christmas dinner products], more than 50%, the price will remain the same as last year. ‘Yong mga iba they just increased but less than 5%,” she said.

“So, that will be steady until the end of the year, para aabot siya hanggang new year,” she added.

[Translation: And then, for the Noche Buena products, the price of more than 50% of the products will remain the same as last year. The prices of others increased but less than 5%.]

Roque said retailers have already raised the prices of imported Christmas food items.

The DTI has released a Noche Buena Price Guide, which included the costs for 236 stock keeping units — or products that are selling well — from 22 manufacturers across 12 noche buena categories.

Of this number, the DTI said 121 items remained at 2023 prices, while 13 others had price decreases.

Steven Cua, the president of Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, said it would be “most likely” that prices of noche buena items in some areas may rise beyond the price guide, depending on the specific situation of supermarkets.

Cua also advised consumers to avoid last-minute purchases for noche buena items.

“Why would you want to wait for prices, which may increase, number one, makipagsapalaran sa [deal with] traffic and have problems in parking and add stress to your life if you can start preparing what you need to prepare now?” he said in an interview with NewsWatch Plus.

Cua advised consumers to take advantage of sale promos on noche buena items.