The Department of Trade and Industry are monitoring prices of commidities in groceries to make sure prices remain reasonable and affordable for Filipinos. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no further spikes in the prices of Noche Buena items before the end of the year, and prices of agricultural items remain within the expected range as the country approaches the Christmas holidays, the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA) assured Thursday.

This came as the DA and DTI conducted a joint inspection at Guadalupe Public Market and two grocery stores in Makati City to ensure reasonable prices of Noche Buena items, rice, meat, fish, vegetables, and other agricultural commodities.

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READ: DTI monitors Noche Buena items to prevent unauthorized price hike

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“There’s no price increase until the end of the year. Because iyan iyong pinag-usapan (that’s what has been agreed upon) with the manufacturers and also the brand owners. For now, no price increase until the end of the year, rest assured,” DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said in an ambush interview.

She said the majority of the stores they have inspected have complied with the set prices for Noche Buena items.

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“More than 50 percent ng Noche Buena items, hindi nag-taas ng presyo. Tapos iyong (didn’t increase prices. And then those) less than 50 percent, merong taas pero (there’s a hike but) less than 5 percent,” Roque added.

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Based on the DTI’s 2024 Noche Buena price guide, most brands of ham, cheese, queso de bola, mayonnaise, all-purpose cream, sandwich spread, pasta spaghetti, and elbow macaroni have either maintained similar or lower price levels compared to 2023.

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The DTI Chief, however, urged the public to take advantage of “sulit packs” being offered since some brands and items increased prices.

“Kontrolado namin yung (We have control over the) prices but not for all the products. Siyempre, kinausap rin namin yung mga manufacturers and iyong mga (Of course, we talked with the manufacturers and) brand owners if they can actually just leave the prices the same as last year. Pero yung mga iba, because of the high cost din, tinaas rin, tapos mataas din yung (But for others, they increased it due to high cost of production, and then there’s also a stronger) dollar,” she said.

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The Noche Buena items that incurred less than P1 to P18-hike include fruit cocktails, salad macaroni, tomato sauce, and spaghetti sauce.

“Of course, they also need to put up their price, pero nag-agree kami na less than 5 percent ang increase nila (but we agreed that their increase should only be less than 5 percent).”

Sabrina Cortez, 46, a single mom, meanwhile, opted to buy Noche Buena items “in bundle” to make the most out of her P1,500 worth of budget for both Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Mas malaki ang less e. Kasi kapag bibilhin mo siya ng per separate, talagang mapapamahal ka. Kapag ganitong bundle, mas malaki iyong matitipid mo. Tapos iyong matitipid mo, ipangbibili mo ng (The price is much less if you buy in bundle. Because if you will buy the items separately, you will surely spend more. But if it’s a bundle, you can save more. And then you can use your savings to buy other) ingredients,” she said.

Agri commodities

For agricultural commodities, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the price adjustments are within the expected range during the holiday season.

For pork prices, the DA chief said the price elevation is still due to the increasing holiday demand and the effects of African swine fever (ASF).

As of Wednesday, the prevailing price of pork kasim in Metro Manila ranges from P300 per kilogram to P370/kg; P340/kg to P410/kg for pork liempo, according to the DA-Bantay presyo.

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“Sa manok naman, sabi kanina nung tindera, umangat din ng PHP20 pesos mula sa normal. So, 10 percent lang ang pagdagdag (For chicken, the vendor said the price increases by PHP20 from the normal. So, that’s an additional 10 percent), which is normal for Kapaskuhan (Christmas season),” Tiu Laurel said after their joint-market inspection.

The prices of whole chicken ranges from P180/kg to P230/kg.

Some level of price increase in fish, likewise, is expected amid the closed fishing season, he added.

“Wala talagang commercial fishing na lumalayag at humuhuli (There’s no commercial fishing and operating) until the end of January of next year,” Tiu Laurel said.

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To date, prices of milkfish range from PHP135/kg to P250/kg; P140/kg to P170/kg for tilapia; P240/kg to P360/kg for local round scad (galunggong)jilibet, and P260/kg to P280/kg for imported round scad; and P260/kg to P380/kg for Indian mackerel.

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