PRICES of manufactured commodities in Negros Occidental, whether basic or prime, have remained stable amid the recent weather disturbances in the province, monitoring of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) showed.
Reginald Hudierez, trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, on Tuesday said they have not monitored any significant increase in the prevailing market prices of manufactured goods especially among local grocery stores and supermarkets.
Hudierez attributed the stable prices to the steady supply of commodities except from agricultural products like rice, corn and sugar, which are not included in the monitoring of DTI.
“There are enough distributors in the province,” he said, adding that most of local establishments, especially big ones like mall supermarkets, have buffer stocks which could last even for a month.
Thus, supply of manufactured goods could not be disrupted by longer days of continuous rains unlike agricultural products, Hudierez said.
Increase in transportation cost is one of the factors that could also result to upward adjustment in prices of commodities.
DTI, however, said the recent heavy rains and flooding in some portions of Negros Occidental have not disrupted the delivery of goods.
Aside from selected supermarkets and grocery stores with distributors outside the province, most local establishments in the northern and southern parts of Negros Occidental are getting their supply in Bacolod City.
Based on the prevailing market situation, Hudierez said the DTI is fairly confident that prices of basic and prime commodities will remain steady.
“It can only move upward when there is disruption in the supply which can be caused by major calamities and disasters like typhoons and earthquakes that could bring problems in the delivery of goods,” he added.