THERE is no significant increase in all "Noche Buena" products in Davao Region, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao reported.
DTI-Davao regional director Maria Belenda Ambi said in Tuesday's DTI media interface at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites that based on all the field offices regular monitoring, prices of all goods and products commonly bought during Holiday season are stable.
"We are glad to report that there is no hike in prices of all Noche Buena products. I believe that is everyone's concern especially this Christmas," she said.
Earlier last month, DTI-Davao Region started distributing new suggested retail prices (SRPs) for Noche Buena products to major retailers in the region.
The new SRPs issued by DTI Central Office are effective from October 31 onwards.
Copies of SRPs were distributed to supermarkets and big grocery stores in Davao Region, particularly Davao City.
Noche Buena products under DTI monitoring include ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, mayonnaise, keso de bola, pasta spaghetti, elbow and salad macaroni, spaghetti and tomato sauce, and creamer.
“Non-compliance with SRPs, regardless on the amount of overpricing, will serve as basis for DTI to call the attention of erring establishments and charge them for profiteering,” DTI said earlier.
Penalties will be identified based on the assessment to be conducted by the agency considering factors like prevailing market situation and distance of retailers from the product sources, among others.
Based on the SRPs issued by DTI, prices of ham range from P135 to P845.75 depending on brand and net weight.
For fruit cocktails: P45.65 to P204; cheese – P44.50 to P588.50; sandwich spread – P18 to P196; mayonnaise – P27 to P245; keso de bola – P149.60 to P445; pasta spaghetti – P15.25 to P87.10; elbow and salad macaroni – P15.25 to P93.45; spaghetti sauce – P18.70 to P81; tomato sauce – P41.65 to P67.50; and creamer – P41.65 to P67.50.
Like ham, prices of these products also depend on the brand and net weight.
Major establishments are required to post copies of SRPs in their respective stores.
Aside from making sure that SRPs are visible, DTI-Davao Region, through the monitoring officers, will also intensify regular price monitoring as well as inspection of product standards and fair trade law compliance of the establishments.
Consumers are advised to also examine the expiry date and the price tag of products prior to purchase, and carefully check and compare the weights of competing brands.