PRICES of basic goods in Bacolod City are relatively lower than other key cities in Negros Occidental.
Based on the automatic price control (APC) reference issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), prices of basic necessities under the agency's monitoring and sold among retail stores in the city are cheaper than those in other localities.
These include canned sardines, milk, coffee, detergent or laundry soap, bread, instant noodles, and water in bottles and container.
Data earlier obtained by SunStar Bacolod showed that the prevailing prices of 155 grams of canned sardines range from P14.40 to P18.20 depending on brands.
For condensed milk, the prices range from P33 to P70; condensada – P27.25 to P54.50; evaporated milk – P20 to P56.50; evaporada – P21 to P26.25; and powdered milk – P46.25 to P174.50 also depending on brands and net weight.
The price of coffee should be P16.75 to P74 and P17.50 to P77.55 for 3-in-1 and refill, respectively, while detergent or laundry soap is P17.50 to P21.
For bread, loaf costs P37 to P64 depending on brands and net weight while pandesal is at P37.
Different brands of 50 to 55 grams of chicken flavor instant noodles should be sold at P6.60 to P7.60 while for beef flavor, P6.50 to P7.60.
The prevailing price of iodized salt is P6.50 to P16.85 depending on brands and net weight.
For distilled water, it costs P6 to P76.30; purified – P9.90 to P19.40; and mineralized – P6 to P65.40.
Candles, on the other hand, should be sold at P32.03 to P145.75 depending on sizes.
Romel Amihan, Consumer Protection Unit head of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the price difference though is not that much.
Sometimes, it is even negligible, Amihan said.
"Prices in Bacolod City are cheaper because most of the warehouses are here," he said, adding that "some establishments, however, have branches outside the city with prices that are the same."
The DTI is currently implementing a 60-day price freeze on basic goods following the declaration of state of public health emergency by President Rodrigo Duterte due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Local establishments have been urged to comply while consumers were told report erring retail stores.
Under Republic Act 7581 or Price Act, any seller who commits any act of illegal price manipulation or violation of the Price Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to P2 million.
DTI-Negros Occidental had already distributed copies of APC reference to retailers in Bacolod City.
It is set to distribute to those in other key cities like Cadiz, Sagay, San Carlos and Kabankalan.
When it comes to prices, those in the said out-of-town areas are higher.
Amihan said there are currently delivery van directly distributing goods at a same price from the source.
"Gone are the days that we can say that the prices outside Bacolod City are significantly higher because of freight," he added.