By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released a new bulletin on suggested retail prices (SRP) last Aug. 29 and has adjusted only 76 prices out of 216.
“We published the new bulletin noong Aug. 29. Effective immediately siya, but we’re just giving time to the retailers na maka-adjust ng presyo,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said on Thursday (Sept. 2) in the Laging Handa public briefing.
“’Yung mga produkto na nag-increase o gumalaw ang presyo, we have around 76 items in the SRP bulletin kasi 216 ‘yung total number ng nasa bulletin natin. We moved only 76 of them. Out of 216, 76 lang po ang ginalaw natin na presyo,” she said.
The range of the increase starts from 20 centavos to P1 which is the ‘absolute minimum.’
“We understand na nasa pandemya pa tayo as of now. Kaya lang we have to understand din po na ‘yung mga manufacturers, last 2019 pa sila humihingi [ng increase]. 2021 na. Ayaw naman natin mag-fold ang mga negosyo dahil kung hindi po profitable sa kanila or lugi po sila, baka magsara or mag-lay off or tuluyang hindi i-produce ‘yung produkto,” Castelo said.
“Pagka hindi na nila tinuloy ang production, mawawalan ng choices ang mga consumers ng mabababang halaga kaya napilitan na rin tayo na gumalaw ng presyo,” she added.
Castelo also said that it was important for consumers to know that the SRP applies only to supermarkets and large grocery stores.
“It’s very important na malaman din ng mga tao ang SRP natin applies to supermarkets and grocery stores na malalaki. Ito ‘yung tinatawag natin na tier two. Pero hindi na siya mag-a-apply sa convenience stores [at] sa mga sari-sari stores,” she said. -rir
