Prices of basic goods in Cebu remain stable
Prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in the province remained stable as of the latest price monitoring conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office on February 27, 2012.
DTI Cebu Provincial Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Chief Zaide Bation said that the current stability of prices in the market can largely benefit the consuming public. “Maayo nuon na,
meaning stable ang atong prices. Mahadlok mi nga naa’y mosaka,” she told The FREEMAN. (It’s good, meaning prices have remained stable. What we fear is if there will be price increases.)
However the latest DTI record showed that the cost of flour remained unchanged except for the Baker's - GMC & PILMICO hard flour which posted a P5 drop from P890 per 25-kilogram bag a month ago to P885 per sack this week. Meanwhile, soft flours of Isla – GMC and Island (GMC) both posted P10 drop in prices, from P790 per 25-kilogram bag to P780 and from P800 to P790 per bag, respectively.
Earlier this month, DTI expected flour millers to rollback the prices to P800 to P830 per bag from the current P900 price range considering that prices of wheat in the international market have posted sharp declines. Prices of wheat in the global market have dropped from $300-$400 per metric ton.
However, despite the drop in the global prices, flour prices in the country have remained high, which also reflected in the prices of bread that have remained the same since a month ago. The latest price report showed that a 410 gram loaf bread is still pegged at P34, while a 500 gram loaf bread is pegged at 42.50, and the Pandesal is sold at P2 each.
On the other hand, while the construction industry in Cebu remains upbeat, prices of construction materials have also posted significant increases ranging from P4 to P8.
Apo Portland cement, which was sold at P186 per sack a month ago can now be bought at P190 per sack. Apo Pozzolan cement is now pegged at P180 per sack from its previous price of P176 per sack while the Grand Portland cement increased by P8 per bag from P182 a month ago to P190 this week. Grand Pozzolan cement is now sold at P180 per sack from P172 per sack a month ago.
Meanwhile, hollow blocks have also posted increases. The #101mm ( 4' ) hollow block increased by P3, which is now pegged at P10 from P7 a month ago, while # 152mm ( 6' ) hollow block is now sold at P12 from P8 per piece a month ago. Prices of steel bars on the other hand went up by P6
While there are products that increased, Bation then clarified that it only has lesser effect on the generally-based price stability of the commodities and may also vary depending on the cost for the previous months.
She added that brand definition and the components per product may affect the price movement. “Stable ta sa
pagkakaron but dili siya true to all, depende sa cost ug sa component. Basta imported, susceptible sab ta sa world market,” she said.
In conducting the price monitoring evaluation, DTI representatives shall personally check various establishments and inspect the pricing rates of the manufacturers and retailers.
The recent monitoring report included the prices of canned sardines, processed milk, coffee, detergents, bread, salt, flour, processed pork and beef, noodles, condiments, toilet soaps, batteries, construction materials, candles and school supplies.