THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wants manufacturers to keep prices of basic necessities steady amid requests for increases given rising fuel and logistics costs.
“We will appeal to them, for the consumers,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters on Wednesday.
A commitment to maintain prices up to May 10 has lapsed and Roque said that some manufactures, including makers of sardines and instant noodles, had asked if they could raise prices by not more than 10 percent.
“We are still reviewing their requests,” Roque said.
The trade department has jurisdiction over basic necessities and prime commodities such as canned sardines, canned meat, coffee, processed milk, instant noodles, condiments, laundry soap, toilet soap, candles, salt, batteries, bottled water and bread.
With the school year also set to open next month, Roque said the manufacturers of school supplies had yet to ask the DTI for price increases.
