ILOILO City – Major supermarkets and retail establishments across Western Visayas have remained compliant with government-prescribed suggested retail prices (SRPs) for basic necessities, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6 reported, even as authorities stepped up market surveillance to protect consumers against unjustified price increases.
DTI-6 Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Mutya D. Eusores said monitoring teams deployed across the region’s provinces have found high levels of compliance among establishments covered by the government’s price monitoring program.
“All provincial offices are actively monitoring supermarkets to ensure compliance with suggested retail prices for basic necessities under the DTI’s jurisdiction,” Eusores stated.
“So far, local business establishments have remained compliant,” Eusores added.
Despite the favorable monitoring results, the DTI cautioned consumers against complacency, urging them to report suspicious price increases, illegal surcharges and unexpected supply disruptions that could undermine their purchasing power.
The agency encouraged the public to immediately bring suspected pricing irregularities to the attention of the nearest DTI provincial office for appropriate action.
The intensified surveillance formed part of the third week of the 2026 Consumer Welfare Month celebration, which combined price monitoring with grassroots consumer education and public awareness activities under the national theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers.”
Beyond checking retail prices, DTI-6 expanded its campaign to public markets and educational institutions to strengthen awareness of consumer rights, product safety standards and responsible business practices.
In Iloilo, the DTI Provincial Office conducted a consumer advocacy outreach activity at the Cabatuan Public Market on October 13, bringing consumer protection information directly to vendors, buyers and livelihood beneficiaries.
Participants included beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), public market vendors and representatives of construction and hardware establishments operating in nearby communities.
DTI resource speakers discussed fundamental consumer rights, product safety requirements and ethical business practices, emphasizing the responsibilities of both sellers and buyers in maintaining fair marketplace transactions.
The activity sought to equip participants with practical knowledge to identify potentially unsafe products, recognize questionable commercial practices and make informed purchasing decisions.
Meanwhile, the DTI Aklan Provincial Office strengthened its consumer protection campaign through activities promoting product standards and youth participation.
On October 13, the provincial office joined the observance of the 52nd National Standards Week by installing educational displays highlighting the importance of compliance with product standards.
The information materials explained how established quality and safety requirements contribute to consumer protection, business efficiency and public confidence in locally available products.
Four days later, on October 17, DTI Aklan organized the Aklan Consumer Cup 2.0 at CityMall Kalibo, bringing together student contestants from across the province.
The competition tested participants’ knowledge of Philippine consumer protection laws, consumer responsibilities and marketplace rights.
DTI-6 said involving young people in consumer education is essential to developing a generation capable of recognizing unfair trade practices and making responsible purchasing decisions.
“Together, we continue to empower the next generation of informed, vigilant, and responsible consumers,” DTI-Western Visayas stated.
The agency emphasized that sustained public participation remains important in complementing government surveillance and encouraging businesses to comply with consumer protection regulations.
While current monitoring indicates strong compliance with suggested retail prices, DTI-6 maintained that continued vigilance among consumers and consistent enforcement by authorities are necessary to discourage abusive pricing practices and preserve confidence in the regional marketplace.
The agency reiterated its call for consumers to report suspected violations rather than allow questionable pricing practices to go unchecked./PN
