THE Department of Trade and Industry in Davao Region (DTI-Davao) is waiting for updated suggested retail prices (SRP) of Noche Buena items as the Christmas season approaches.
Deolly Roque, chief of DTI-Davao Regional Consumer Protection Division chief of DTI-Davao, said that the central office of DTI is yet to release an updated SRP list for Noche Buena items.
“The last one kay katong last year pa man (The last SRP was last year) so there might be an upgraded or latest SRP for Noche Buena products,” Roque said during the Wednesdays Media Forum on October 12.
Once the SRP would be implemented, Roque said DTI-Davao would closely monitor stores and business establishments to ensure that the products are appropriately priced.
Last November 2021, ham and keso de bola were priced at P158 - P204 and P285 - P410 per 500 grams respectively.
Five hundred grams of spaghetti cost P54.50 - P72 while a kilo of spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce was P68.25 - P76.25 and P62 - P63.50 respectively.
Meanwhile, the chief also reminded the public to be wary of Christmas lights and seasonal decorations without Philippine Standard (PS) marking or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers.
She said these unregistered or illegal Christmas lights could be hazardous as they most likely did not undergo quality assurance or product testing.
“Without the markings, most likely these products wala nag product testing (were not tested) so prone or maka-cause ng fire talaga siya (it is prone to fires),” Roque said.
In line with this, DTI-Davao is campaigning for consumer knowledge about the proper use and dangers of Christmas lights.
“In the next few weeks, all over the region, lahat ng (all of our) consumer protection personnel will really intensify or do more monitoring of Christmas light products,” Roque said. ICM