Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will be releasing a new list of suggested retail prices (SRP) soon, upon the request of manufacturers reeling from the rising cost of production.
“Hindi na maiwasan. Nakikita naman natin ang nangyayari sa production — around the world naman ‘yun. Pero pinag-aaralan pa natin ‘yung data na binigay sa atin ng manufacturers and we’ll validate it,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said on Wednesday
[Translation: It can’t be avoided anymore. We can see what’s happening in production all over the world. But we are still studying the data from manufacturers so we can validate it.]
Among the products are basic necessities and commodities included in the Price Act of 1982, like soap (both for laundry and bath), canned meat and sardines, bread, instant noodles, coffee, and processed milk.
The DTI keeps a list of the products on its website. The last time it increased their SRP was in August.
Castelo said the DTI it is still finalizing details and could not give a specific date on when the new list of SRP would be released. The agency earlier said it could be released this month.
“Marami tayong pending requests from last year— even before August 2022 nung huling publication natin hindi pa natin nagagalaw kasi tinatapos natin yung studies. Then maybe pagka natapos na and we have the approval already, pwede na natin — kung talagang papayagan nating itaas, pwede na ilabas soon,” added Castelo.
[Translation: We have a lot of pending requests from last year — even before August 2022 when the SRP was last published. When the studies are done and they are allowed to increase prices, then we can release the list.]
