Prices of commodities to remain steady until yearend – DTI

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque said prices of most Noche Buena items would also remain unchanged. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Prices of basic necessities will remain steady until the end of 2024, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Thursday as the holiday season approaches.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque said prices of most Noche Buena items would also remain unchanged.

“First and foremost, for the prices for basic necessities, no price increase until the end of the year,” Roque said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“And then for the Noche Buena, more than 50 percent, the price will remain the same as last year. And ‘yung mga iba, they just increased but less than 5 percent,” she said.

The Trade chief, however, said that minor price increases on certain commodities are already being implemented.

Roque said these increases are necessary to account for rising costs, particularly for imported goods.

But she assured consumers that adjustments were kept minimal to ensure they would not become a burden to them.

“Actually, there was no price increase since last year. So, of course, prices –some are imported products have already increased. So they decided to request if they could increase,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, updated prices of Noche Buena package items can be found on the DTI’s social media platforms to serve as guide to the public, she added.