• DTI adds more stores for price monitoring

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expanded the coverage of stores under its market monitoring to ensure reasonably-priced basic goods and prime commodities.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said a total of 1,210 business establishments nationwide would be under the watch of his agency for price monitoring.

“Upholding our commitment to ensure consumers’ access to reasonably-priced basic and prime goods, the DTI intensifies its price monitoring efforts by increasing the number of firms that the department will monitor to 1,210 business establishments nationwide – 610 firms are now being monitored in NCR and 600 more across the rest of the regions,” Lopez said.

President Duterte earlier mobilized concerned agencies and ordered them to take immediate steps to ease consumer woes and protect them from profiteers in line with soaring global crude costs and the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Last Wednesday, DTI said it monitored 43 groceries and supermarkets in Metro Manila to check if prices of basic necessities and prime commodities are sold within suggested retail prices (SRP).

According to the DTI, two groceries in Parañaque and Marikina were issued with letters of inquiry for selling one brand of laundry soap higher than the SRP, requiring the establishments to submit a written explanation within 48 hours before the DTI.

Per verification, DTI said the subject laundry soap brand recently submitted a proposed price adjustment before the agency.

Pursuant to its Department Administrative Order 17-09 on the implementation of SRP of basic and prime goods, any price adjustment can only take effect after 30 days from date of notification to provide a period of review by the DTI in determining reasonableness for its price increase.