ANY adjustment in the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) in supermarkets will depend on suppliers, the head of an independent retailers group said on Wednesday.
“We pad a regular margin on the different categories found inside a supermarket. Samples of categories are bread, coffee, milk, shampoo, toothpaste, non-edibles.... There will be some exceptions, as agreed upon with suppliers. If suppliers don‘t increase or decrease their prices, we [also] don‘t,” Cua explained.
On Tuesday, the Department of Trade and Industry said food manufacturers have assured price stability on BNPCs for the next 30 days.
The decision was made in a meeting called by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on Monday, which was attended by representatives of 21 manufacturers of canned sardines, bread, bottled water, instant noodles, coffee, canned meat, toilet soap and candles.
“Competition keeps us in check. Consumers can buy food from other stores. [And] during a price freeze, we don‘t lose money,” Cua said on whether supermarkets suffer losses when the government imposes a price cap on goods for 30 days.
These include canned sardines such as Unipak, 555, Ligo, Lucky 7, Fresca, Morjon, Golden Town, and Mega; bread products Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal; bottled water such as Wilkins and Nature’s Spring; toilet and laundry soaps Safeguard Pure White, Tide Bar Original Scent, and Green Cross Pure White; condiments Datu Puti’s soy sauce and vinegar, and Lorins’ Patis; processed canned meat of CDO; and candles from Liwanag.
Meanwhile, brands such as Lucky Me, Ho-Mi, Argentina, Lucky 7, 555, Swift Premium, Wow!, and Shanghai will keep their prices for 60 days.
This is also the case for Kopiko, Nescafe, San Mig coffee 3-in-1, and Export candle, the DTI said.
