Price ceiling on food items remains
by Cecille Lardizabal, ABS-CBN News | 11/08/2009 3:34 PM
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MANILA – The price control imposed by the government on the prices of basic commodities remains but some wet markets in Metro Manila have started raising prices.
For instance, the supposed P130 per kilo price of chicken is now at P140 to P145 per kilo. Some markets sell pork P10 higher than the price ceiling of P170.
Vendors said they will be selling at a loss if they follow the price ceiling when their suppliers have already raised their prices.
“Ang hinaing ho namin sa paninda namin ay napakataas po ng bigay ng dealer lalo na ho ang manok. Number one, araw-araw dalawang piso, limang piso. May price control o P130 hindi namin ho kaya, ” said vendor Josie Luris.
Following the increase in the price of sugar, the prices of food products which have sugar content are expected to follow suit.
Some bakers said they may have no choice but to increase the price of bread by December if sugar prices continue to increase.
Holiday season
Prices of ham and some other Filipino delicacies as leche flan and cakes are expected to increase not just because of the high cost of sugar but also because of high demand.
In their desire to keep prices stable, some supermarket owners now sell what are affordable in the market, such as selling brown sugar over the more expensive white or refined sugar.
"Sa ngayong kung pag-usapan natin ngayon, wala pang pagbabago. Sa mga darating na araw, ewan ko. By tradition, one week before Christmas nagkakaroon spiking of prices," said Federico Ples, secretary general of the Philippine Association of Supermarkets, Inc.
"If they will do that, we'll be forced to buy now, to stock up. Kasi [this] coming Christmas season, tataas talaga, then we will have to stock up. Pero in reality people won't be doing that kasi in the first place kulang yung pera,” said consumer Mercy Joson.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), meantime, reminded unscrupulous retailers and traders to sell on the ceiling allowed for now or else they will be faced with sanctions.
“We will use Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) as guide and can hit them on profiteering if they sell above SRPs,” noted DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.
The National Price Coordinating Council, meanwhile, is considering adjusting the price ceiling when its members meet next week.
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