CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Prices and supply of basic needs and prime commodities in Central Luzon remain stable, based on the monitoring of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
From August 3 to 7, the DTI price monitoring teams in provincial offices have monitored 192 groceries and supermarkets selling basic needs and prime commodities.
A total of 613 items under the basic needs categories were checked and 241 prime commodities were also monitored.
“Based on their monitoring, all of the items were within the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) table set by DTI in September 2019. While the price freeze for basic goods has already been lifted since June 15, the SRP table for September 2019 is still the current basis for the prices of goods in the market,” DTI Regional Director Judith Angeles said.
The report of the DTI monitoring teams also noted that that inventory of grocery stocks is sufficient and adequate, with levels ranging from one week to eight weeks.
Replenishment of delivery of supplies to stores range from weekly for Aurora, twice to thrice a week for Bataan, daily to every other week in Pampanga and twice a week or weekly in Zambales.
“The teams also reported that sardines, noodles and canned goods remain to be the most saleable items in the region’s stores but stocks are sufficient to cover the demand,” Angeles added.
In terms of store hours, retail establishments in the region are open from 7:00AM to 5:00PM in Aurora, 5:00AM to 8:00PM in Bataan, 4:00AM to 11:00PM in Bulacan, 7:00AM to 9:00PM in Pampanga, 7:00AM to 7:00PM in Tarlac and 5:00AM to 9:00PM in Zambales.
It was also noted from the store inspections that establishments complied with Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
regulations on social distancing, wearing of face masks, plastic barriers/dividers, sanitizing practices, customer limits in stores, thermal scanning and foot bath/disinfection.
“We will continue to support safe workplaces and the provision of affordable goods in the time of pandemic through initiatives that will ensure that consumers will have sufficient supply of basic goods and prime commodities at affordable prices,” Angeles emphasized.
For consumer concerns, DTI may be reached through its hotline 1-384 or email [email protected]. It may also be reached through its Facebook pages DTI Philippines or DTI Centralluzon.