Basic goods prices will stay unchanged until May 10, giving Filipino households a window to manage daily expenses before any increase can take effect, after the DTI secured another commitment from manufacturers and retailers to hold off on price hikes.
Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque announced the extension on Friday during a supermarket inspection in Muntinlupa City. The agreement applies to major groceries and supermarkets nationwide and extends earlier commitments that had already kept prices steady through mid-April and then until the end of the month.
For consumers, this means essential items used every day will remain at current prices for the next few weeks. These include canned sardines, canned meat, coffee, processed milk, instant noodles, condiments, soap, bread, bottled water, and other basic goods monitored by the DTI. The agency tracks 726 variants of essential products, including 196 items covered by suggested retail prices.
The extension comes despite requests from manufacturers to raise prices. “Whatever decrease in cost will always help,” Roque said, pointing to recent fuel price rollbacks that helped ease pressure on production and transport costs.
Any increase in commonly purchased goods would add to household spending, especially for families adjusting to higher fuel and commuting expenses. The DTI said current conditions allow prices to remain stable without triggering a formal price freeze under Republic Act No. 7581, which applies only during a state of calamity or similar emergency.
“For the price cap, there’s no need for the basic necessities because we still are able to keep the prices stable up to May 10… There’s always a request to increase prices,” she said, adding that manufacturers understand the needs of consumers.
The DTI also assured the public that supply remains sufficient. “There is enough supply so again there’s no need to panic, there’s no need to hoard,” Roque added, as retailers reported steady inventories even as shoppers buy more items per visit to limit fuel and transportation costs.
