Consumers are set to benefit from stable prices after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that there will be no price increases on basic commodities until the end of April.
The extension came after manufacturers agreed to prolong their voluntary price freeze from the original April 16 deadline to April 30, following a meeting with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque earlier this week.
“Last week, the announcement was only until April 16, but we met with the manufacturers last Monday, and they agreed to maintain no price increase until April 30. Maybe they also want to do their share to help and assist consumers,” Roque said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
Roque noted that adequate product inventory in supermarkets has helped cushion the impact of rising logistics costs, contributing to the decision to maintain stable prices.
The extended price freeze covers 205 items listed under the DTI’s stockkeeping unit list, including essential goods such as canned products, bread, bottled water, candles, and laundry soap.