Manufacturers and industry players have committed to holding the line on prices despite rising logistics costs tied to the ongoing global crisis, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
DTI Secretary Christina Roque, speaking to reporters in San Juan, said the agency had already engaged key players across relevant sectors to secure that commitment. Compliance among establishments is currently at a satisfactory level, she added, with groceries and supermarkets maintaining adequate stocks of essential goods.
The public has been advised against panic buying and hoarding, with Roque noting that supply conditions do not warrant such behavior at this time.
The 30-day window, however, carries no guarantee of extension. The DTI acknowledged that conditions beyond that period remain contingent on how global markets move, leaving the price stability pledge tied to factors outside the agency’s direct control.
Penalties are already in place for violations of price regulations, and the DTI said it would be stepping up monitoring activity as the crisis continues. The agency said it is maintaining active coordination with industries to track price movements and keep essential commodities within reach of ordinary consumers.
