By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The prices of basic necessities and prime
commodities in Dipolog City and the province of Zamboanga del Norte have remained
stable since November 2014 until January 31, 2015, according to the provincial
office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.
Provincial
Director Noel Bazan said this report was based on the regular price monitoring conducted
by the DTI to the local business establishments and retailers in the city.
Bazan
added that the suggested retail price (SRP) issued by the manufacturers through
their distributors here is the same SRP used by the DTI in its price
monitoring. The latest SRP was issued on Nov. 7, 2014.
As
of press time, the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) in Manila through DTI
Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba, has been conducting a meeting with the
manufacturers to determine the new SRP.
It
was learned that other manufacturers have already announced to reduce their
retail price, however the DTI has yet to receive one for the purpose.
It
was expected that due to a series of price rollback in petroleum products,
there would also be corresponding reduction in the prices of basic commodities,
since fuel has been considered as one of the major component in the total
production cost.
Bazan
assured the public that a new SRP would be immediately implemented and
disseminated to all retailers as soon as his office shall have received it from
the central office.
However,
he clarified that not all products is under the jurisdiction of DTI. “What we
are monitoring is only the retail price of canned goods, milk, coffee, laundry
soap, instant noodles, luncheon meat, corned beef, vinegar, soy sauce,
batteries and selected construction products.”
