FIVE manufacturers of basic commodities have agreed to a voluntary price freeze for 60 days to help stabilize the prices of some items as the Philippines continues to battle the effects of El Niño, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said yesterday.
“Iba-iba po ang date of effectivity nila. Kasama po dito sa voluntary price freeze ang mga processed meat, processed milk items, bottled water, instant noodles,” DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles said, without naming specific companies.
The DTI will also strengthen its efforts in price “monitoring, hoarding and any acts of illegal price manipulation” to ensure that prices of basic commodities will remain stable despite droughts and dry spells in some parts of the country.
The agency will also release a more detailed suggested retail price list to include the unit cost of goods — a move designed to deter “shrinkflation,” Nograles said.
“Ibig sabihin makikita na natin magkano ang presyuhan ng mga bilihin per gram, per ml, per unit cost nito,” she said.
“Ito ‘yung magiging mark natin para malaman natin ‘yung mga hindi gumagalaw ang presyo pero binabawasan ang timbang o binababaan ang presyo pero napakalaki naman ng pagbawas ng timbang,” she said.
She added: “‘Pag naka-indicate na ‘yung unit cost, isang tingin lang ng consumers, maco-compare na nila ‘yung presyuhan ng mga bilihin.” (ABS-CBN News)
