THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental continues to conduct regular monitoring of establishments in the province to ensure compliance of suggested retail prices (SRPs) for Noche Buena products, its top official said.
Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, told SunStar Bacolod on November 11 that their monitoring team has been checking on stores since the release of the new SRPs for "added products" on October 13.
Gonzales said that Noche Buena items are considered "added products" because these are not included in the basic and prime commodities being regularly monitored by the DTI.
"As of now, stores are still compliant to the SRPs set for Noche Buena items," she said, adding that based on their monitoring, they have not seen problems in terms of supply of these products.
In the previous years, the supply of these commodities especially creamer are usually dwindling a week before Christmas and New Year.
Based on the new SRPs for Noche Buena products, the price of a 500-gram ham ranges from P137 to P949 depending on the brand.
For fruit cocktail, the price ranges from P49 to P225 for 432 grams net weight still depending on brands.
Various brands of 44 grams to 950 grams of cheese cost P48.50 to P265 while the price of queso de bola ranges from P169 to P495.
Sandwich spread is sold at P20.25 to P205.80 depending on net weight and brands. Mayonnaise in pouch and jar costs P28 to P283 also depending on the net weight and brands.
DTI also announced that prices of pasta spaghetti are now ranging from P15.25 to P92. Also, the cost of the products depends on the number of grams and brands.
Other Noche Buena items include various brands of elbow and salad macaroni with price ranges from P15.25 to P92.75 for 200 grams to one kilogram; spaghetti sauce, P22 to P77 for 250 grams to one kilogram; tomato sauce, P12.25 to P81 for 115 grams to one kilogram; and creamer, P49.50 to P69 for 250 milliliter (ml) to 410 ml.
Gonzales said supermarkets and other establishments may still increase the price provided it should not be more than 10 percent of the SRPs.
Gonzales said erring stores will be issued show cause order and are required to explain why it imposed higher prices.
"Overpricing has corresponding penalties. Computation depends on the asset size of the firm and level of offense," she added.
DTI-Negros Occidental has advised the public to inquire or report to their office any complaints through telephone number 434-7920 or email address r06.negrosoccidental.gov.ph. (EPN)