Store attendants pack Noche Buena items at a supermarket in Quezon City on December 20, 2021. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
CITY OF MALOLOS 鈥� The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is monitoring the prices of Noche Buena items in 150 supermarkets and public markets across Bulacan to prevent unauthorized price hikes this Christmas season.
DTI Bulacan Officer-in-Charge Director Cristina Valenzuela said the agency is doubling its efforts to implement a comprehensive December monitoring plan, which targets top public markets and supermarkets in 20 municipalities and four cities in the province.
According to Valenzuela, the cities of Malolos, San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, and Baliwag as well as the municipalities of Sta. Maria, Marilao, Pulilan, San Miguel, Calumpit, Guiguinto, and Bocaue have the highest number of supermarkets and public markets in the province.
She also said several Noche Buena items鈥攕uch as cheese, mayonnaise, queso de bola, macaroni, pasta, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, fruit cocktail, and all-purpose cream鈥攁re now available at lower prices based on DTI鈥檚 2024 Noche Buena Price Guide.
Charisse Miravalles, DTI Bulacan鈥檚 lead price monitoring officer, said stores found selling Noche Buena items at prices higher than the DTI鈥檚 recommendation would be required to justify the price increase. Violators would also be directed to adjust the prices of their goods in compliance with the DTI鈥檚 standards.