DTI brings in new programs and services to empower Filipino consumers

The Department of Trade and Industry brings in new services for Filipino consumers such as expanded SRP (Suggested Retail Price) list and price monitoring that can be readily accessed from mobile phones to further empower Filipinos to be wise and responsive consumers.

DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo announced that DTI will release this month an expanded SRP list that will include several premium brands of the common basic necessities and prime commodities.

DTI’s SRP list of basic necessities include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soaps, detergents, candle, breads, salt, potable waters sold in bottles/containers and locally manufactured instant noodles.

For prime commodities, the SRP list include flour, processed pork, beef and poultry meat, vinegar, fish sauce (patis), soy sauce, paper, school supplies, cement, clinker, GI sheets, hollow blocks, construction and electrical supplies, batteries, light bulbs and steel wires.

Castelo said expanding the SRP will benefit the consumers as they will have a wider list of products to look into that will ensure that they will get the value for their money. At the same time, it will serve as additional promotion for retailers as their products will be included in the DTI SRP list with the actual price that they themselves submitted and only confirmed by DTI if it fits the suggested retail price of such product or commodity.

Consumers, she said, can now check the SRP of basic necessities and prime commodities and compare which brands have the least price while in the grocery or market place using their mobile phones, through the DTI e – Presyo Apps that can be downloaded through Android mobile phones and Apple iPhones.

DTI will also have Consumer Corners in malls and department stores, she added.

Another major project for Filipino consumers that Castelo announced is the DTI “Suking Tindahan”. This is expected to be formally launched in the National Capital Region this August and then immediately cascaded to the regions including Region 3.

Under the project, DTI will link “sari-sari” stores in the communities to big retailers or distributors so that they can get the basic necessities and prime commodities at their first hand or discounted price so they can also sell such products at suggested retail price, Castelo explained.

With the DTI Suking Tindahan, consumers can save travel time and cost in going to big groceries or supermarkets to buy their needed basic necessities and prime commodities, she said.