Senator Mark Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, joined the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Secretary Alfredo Pascual in a price monitoring activity of Noche Buena items in one of the grocery stores in Divisoria market in Manila.
Senator Mark Villar (left) and Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual check the prices of basic Noche Buena items being sold in a Divisoria grocery in Manila.
“Ngayong malapit na po ang kapaskuhan, kailangan na mas mahigpit ang ating monitoring ng mga presyo ng produkto upang masigurado na magiging masaya ang pasko ng ating kapwa Pilipino (This Christmas season, we have to strictly enforce price monitoring to ensure that Filipino families will be able to enjoy the holidays),” Villar said.
Villar, Pascual, and other DTI officials went to inspect food items that are usually present in the Filipino Noche Buena table such as pasta packages, spaghetti and tomato sauce, sandwich spreads, and canned goods. They inspected whether these food items are following the 2023 Price Guide for Noche Buena products which was released by the Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) on Nov. 21.
“Patuloy po tayong nakatutok sa mga presyo ng bilihin ngayong kapaskuhan. Atin pong sisiguraduhin na sumusunod ang ating mga sellers sa price guide ng DTI (We will strictly monitor the prices and make sure that sellers are complying with the price guide of the DTI),” Villar added.
He emphasized the importance of the regular price monitoring activities for the protection of consumers, which in part is in compliance with the Price Act. The Price Act ensures the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times while securing a fair return on investment for businesses.
“We are a very festive people. Ang taunang selebrasyon ng Noche Buena is a fixture in the Filipino Christmas. Ito pong ating price monitoring activity ay isinasagawa natin sa tulong ng DTI upang mabigyang proteksyon ang ating mga consumers at upang masigurado na makakapag-celebrate ng maligayang pasko ang ating mga kababayan (The annual Noche Buena feast is a fixture in the Filipinos' celebration of Christmas. Our price monitoring activity is being enforced with the help from DTI to protect our consumers and to ensure that every Filipino family will get to celebrate Christmas,” Villar emphasized.
He called for the public’s help in reporting any merchant or vendor that is non-compliant with the DTI’s SRP and quality standards.
For complaints, the general public can report to the DTI Hotline 1384 or to any social media accounts of the agency.