QUEZON CITY, (PIA) –The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met with manufacturers of Noche Buena items Monday, 11 December 2023, following consumer reports of price deviations from the Noche Buena Price Guide released by DTI last in November
“As part of our commitment to ensure that Noche Buena items remain affordable and of good quality this holiday season, we are intensifying our price monitoring efforts all over the country,” Trade & Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said.
“Through this meeting with manufacturers, we aim to assure consumers that the DTI remains at the forefront of ensuring that the rights of consumers are protected,” Pascual added.
The DTI immediately called for a meeting with the Noche Buena manufacturers after receiving reports that certain Christmas products like queso de bola, fruit cocktails, ham, all-purpose cream, and mayonnaise were sold above the prices indicated in the price guide.
In response, the manufacturers agreed to verify with their retail partners to address this concern. Further, some manufacturers in the said meeting committed to intensify their own price and supply monitoring efforts to ensure that their products are sold in accordance with the Noche Buena Price Guide until the end of the year.
The manufacturers also confirmed that the supply of Noche Buena items are sufficient until the end of the holiday season.
It can also be recalled that the manufacturers assured DTI of the sufficient supply and stability of prices during their meeting held last 07 November 2023 prior to the release of the Price Guide.
The DTI Secretary called on the manufacturers and retailers to adhere to the price guide and advised the consumers to continuously use the price guide to make informed choices, “that is what the Price Guide is for – that consumers will be informed so they may exercise their right to choose,” Pascual said.
“I also instructed our price monitors to ramp up their price monitoring activities,” Pascual added. (DTI/PIA-NCR)
