DTI-NegOcc: No prize freeze for Noche Buena items

BACOLOD. The Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental said that  for now, there's no instruction from the agency's Central Office whether to implement a prize freeze for Noche Buena products amid the looming holiday season. (File photo)
BACOLOD. The Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental said that for now, there's no instruction from the agency's Central Office whether to implement a prize freeze for Noche Buena products amid the looming holiday season. (File photo)

FOR now, there's no instruction from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Office whether to implement a prize freeze for Noche Buena products amid the looming holiday season, an agency top official said.

DTI-Negros Occidental officer-in-charge Provincial Director Rachel Nufable told SunStar Bacolod that even for the basic and prime commodities, the 60-day prize freeze that was previously implemented following the declaration of national state of public health emergency was already lifted.

Also, there is no new suggested retail prices (SRPs) yet for Noche Buena products.

Nufable said they are currently monitoring the prices of these items, as well as those of basic and prime commodities if these are within the SRPs.

"Pending the new SRPs, we are using as basis the previous SRPs for Noche Buena items in monitoring the prices," she added.

Noche Buena products include ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, keso de bola, spaghetti, macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce and creamer.

If based on last year's SRPs, the price of ham ranges from P135 to P1,025 depending on brand and net weight.

Another in demand product is fruit cocktail. In terms of price, it costs P50.35 to P239.40 also depending on brand and net weight.

For cheese, the cost ranges from P49.50 to P269.50; sandwich spread -- P21.05 to P205.80; mayonnaise -- P28 to P283; keso de bola -- P169 to P539; spaghetti -- P19 to 92; macaroni -- P18.75 to P98.65; spaghetti sauce -- P22 to P84.20; tomato sauce -- P12.25 to P78.25; creamer -- P52 to P75.

The DTI-Central Office, in a report earlier, said implementing a price freeze on Noche Buena products is not possible because these are neither basic nor prime.

Nufable said that based on their monitoring, the demand for Noche Buena items in the province has yet to spike.

"The supply is still sufficient," she added.

The DTI has been urging consumers in the province to report overpricing among establishments.

Stores have to comply with the SRPs for Noche Buena items as well as of basic and prime commodities. If not, they might be charged with profiteering.

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