
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) assured Saturda, July 18, that there would be no increase in prices of basic necessities and prime commodities for now.
This was the response of Trade Secretary Cristina Roque when asked about the potential effects on prices of goods of the expected surge in oil prices next week in the wake of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Roque said there have been no petitions for price adjustments from manufacturers.
“For the increase, wala pa namang humihingi ng price increase sa atin. So for now there’s still no price increase,” she said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of MSME Summit 2026 led by nonprofit organization GoNegosyo in partnership with the trade department.
“Wala pang nag-apply,” Roque added.
The trade chief also emphasized that it is hard to speculate at this point.
“It’s really best for us to just wait first,” she noted. (ABS-CBN News)






