By: Alden M. Monzon – @inquirerdotnet

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has vowed to intensify price monitoring of basic commodities, including rice, canned goods, and bread, keeping a close eye on both costs as well as supply chain.

“In ‘Bagong Pilipinas, empowered consumers are our priority. We ensure this by strengthening the DTI’s price and supply monitoring across the country. Our goal is to guarantee fair prices and access to essential goods for all,” Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said in a statement over the weekend.

Roque said they were working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units.

“This collaborative approach will allow us to better protect consumer rights and ensure the well-being of all Filipinos,” she said.

The DTI said that rigorous price checks have been conducted at nine wet markets, covering 22 rice retailers and 12 individual rice vendors as of January 9.

The government agency’s fair trade enforcement bureau also said that they would continue to support and enhance price monitoring of basic goods as well as maintain the stability of supply in local markets.

Basic necessities under the DTI’s mandate include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, salt, bottled water, and locally manufactured instant noodles.

On the other hand, the DA oversees rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh and dried marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, and fresh fruits.

For its part, the Department of Energy is responsible for household liquified petroleum gas and kerosene.

Products such as flour, processed and canned pork, beef, and poultry, vinegar, fish sauce, toilet soap, paper, school supplies, and batteries are included in the list of prime commodities under the DTI.

As for prime commodities under the DA, the roster includes dried pork, beef and poultry meat, onion, garlic, fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.

Aside from ramping up their price monitoring efforts, the DTI also said they were ensuring consumer welfare through their “timbangan ng bayan” program, an initiative that provides public weighing scales at wet markets for public use.

“We are committed to safeguarding consumers from profiteering and other acts of price manipulation, ensuring they are not burdened by unjust price hikes,” DTI fair trade group assistant secretary Teodoro Agaton Uvero said.

Published Date: January 20, 2025