By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Cognizant with the plight of Filipinos affected by severe natural disasters this year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recognized the compliance of retailers to the 60-day price freeze that the agency earlier imposed on basic necessities.
Such an initiative was also in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national calamity due to typhoons Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) and Uwan (international name: Fung-wong).
In a media release Thursday, DTI noted this observation was derived from 1,284 inspections conducted by DTI teams nationwide since the declaration—including 232 in Metro Manila, where monitors checked prevailing prices and the availability of key items such as canned sardines, instant noodles, bread, coffee, bottled water, and canned meat.
The agency likewise noted the return to normalcy of supermarket and grocery operations nationwide following brief surges in consumer demand caused by the typhoons, with supplies of other commodities in urban hubs remaining stable as of press time.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement, “The DTI constantly upholds its responsibilities to consumers, working round-the-clock to implement the President’s directive and guarantee that essential goods stay affordable and accessible, especially for the communities most affected by the calamities.”
Earlier, the DTI also released its 2025 Noche Buena price guide outlining the prices of commodities in high demand during the Yuletide season, with the catalog citing stable prices of these goods in time for year-end revelries.
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