DTI Usec Castelo: Bohol goods cheaper than SRP

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov 9 (PIA)--Believe it or not, there are more consumer products in Bohol malls that are priced lower than Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) suggested retail prices (SRP).

This was the observation of DTI undersecretary for consumer protection group, Usec. Ruth Castelo, who swung to the malls Saturday, November 9, to check and monitor the prices of basic commodities as controlled by the government.

Usec Castelo, who flew into town to attend the ASEAN Consultative Committee Meeting on Standards and Quality, Nov 5-8 at the Hennan Resort in Panglao, took a time off her schedules to monitor prices here and assure Bohol consumers that prices of basic goods are right.

This, DTI Bohol Provincial Director Maria Soledad Balistoy said, assures minimum wage workers that they can still get the best value for their money.

Although there were a few products that were not compliant with the SRP, she advanced the information that the store is open to rectifying the price difference.

The SRP is well implemented, [in Bohol] overflowing ang supply and mas advanced nga [in terms of set-up and security], nakakapagcomply sa SRP, Castelo, who is a self-confessed Manileña, told media during the price monitoring sortie at the Island City Mall, Saturday.

And, despite all these, she assured that the local DTI Consumer Protection Division would be continuing weekly the price monitoring, so make sure that the October 31 SRP will be followed until Christmas.

"We do not expect any price movements until next year, or until a now SRP advisory comes out then," Usec Castelo assures.

Among the goods the DTI official inspected are the noche buena items: queso de bola, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, pasta spaghetti, elbow and salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce and creamer products, among the 134 products which has the DTI SRP issued since October 31.

In Bohol, where there is an ongoing entry ban on pork meat products as the African Swine Fever continues to be a threat, DTI said there is still one product that displays ham and processed meat, and they have sufficient supply.

Besides, insiders said the hams were earlier prepared, way before the ASF scare exploded, and this should make the products safe for human consumption and ASF free.

There is still one brand that is now displayed in the Visayas that we can be assured ASF-free.

What is important is the availability of the products to consumers, and the one that is available follows the SRP, she bared. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)