As Christmas holidays kick in, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Consumer Protection Group (CPG), said on Saturday, Oct. 28, that some brands of ham have increased by one to four percent.
DTI-CPG Officer-In-Charge Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco shared during the Konsyumer Atbp radio program that the DTI met with the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) and was informed that the meat processors postponed their plan to increase the suggested retail price (SRP) for their Noche Buena items by 15 to 20 percent in consideration of the spirit of Christmas season.
Instead, ham manufacturers increased the SRPs on 18 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of ham by one to four percent while three SKUs have lowered prices and seven of them maintained their current prices.
Meanwhile, prices for the remaining two brands are yet to be issued. Consumers can buy these ham products for as low as P169 to P900.
For 500 grams of ham, price ranges from P169 to P104; P230 for 700 grams; P230 to P319 for 800 grams; P339 to P650 for one kilogram; and P890 to P900 for 1.5 kilogram.
Meanwhile, Pacheco highlighted the consumers’ right to choose as one of the eight basic consumer rights promoted by the DTI.
In line with this, she said that consumers can choose from 30 types of ham products available in the market.
Aside from the right to choose, consumers also have the right to basic needs, safety, information, representation, redress, consumer education, and a healthy environment.
Without mentioning the specific brands, these include American ham, pear-shaped ham, ham chicken, hamon de bola, pina ham, and season’s delight ham, among others.
Pacheco said there are 30 SKUs of ham listed on the DTI’s SRP bulletin which are produced by six brands manufacturers.
In addition, DTI reported that the total Noche Buena items submitted by manufacturers this year increased by 238 SKUs compared to last year’s 222 SKUs.
The DTI said that the SRP bulletin for Noche Buena items is expected to be released by mid-November upon the completion of its list.