Minimal adjustments in prices of bread products noted: DTI
Adjustments in prices of bread products like loaf bread and pandesal are due to increased prices of sugar and LPG prices, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
DTI-Iloilo Director Wilhelm Malones said during a PIA interview that in the case of loaf bread, there was a P1.50 increase from the previous price monitoring, and 50 centavos increase for the 10-piece pack of pandesal.
Malones said the shortage in sugar supply is largely caused by the delayed in the milling season and the continuing higher prices of sugar globally.
He said that sugar is a commodity under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, and by January 2011, the DA, DTI and the Sugar Regulatory Administration will discuss this concern, emphasizing that even without the Suggested Retail Price for sugar, they will still protect the consumers against unscrupulous retailers.
Malones also noted that commercial establishments in Iloilo City were compliant to the SRP, including those of Noche Buena products.
“We have advisory from the National Price Coordinating Council regarding the SRP for products like ham, mayonnaise, pasta, and many others, and that was the reference of our monitoring here,” he said.
Malones also said the Philippine Association of Meat Processors assured the public of enough supply of meat, chicken and pork with manageable price adjustments.
In buying household appliances, Malones said that consumers are always reminded to check on the Philippine Standard (PS) and/or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks.
The PS Quality mark can be found on locally manufactured products and/or in products manufactured in foreign country with the existing bilateral arrangement with the Philippines from Bureau of Product Standards. It assures consumers that the product they are buying conform to the specific Philippine National Standard or an internationally accepted foreign standard.
ICCs are issued to importers whose shipments have been found to conform to the requirements of the relevant Philippine National Standards or acceptable international or foreign standards. In addition to satisfactory test results of import shipments, BPS conducts random checks at market outlets to make sure that imported shipments consistently meet the requirements of the applicable Philippine standard.*PIA6
