By Xander Ledesma
As the holiday season approaches, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental has ramped up its price monitoring of Noche Buena products in major retail establishments.
Krystle Jade Bato, spokesperson for DTI-Negros Oriental, confirmed on Monday that the agency began monitoring prices last month and will continue to conduct weekly checks across seven major retailers in Dumaguete City. These include grocery stores and supermarkets such as Robinsons Mall, Lee Super Plaza, Cang’s Inc., and City Mall.
The price monitoring covers a range of essential Noche Buena items, including ham, fruit cocktail, mayonnaise, pasta, queso de bola, sandwich spread, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce, among other products typically used for the traditional Christmas Eve meal.
Bato noted that while some prices have seen a slight increase, the changes have been minimal. She assured the public that there have been no reports of hoarding or shortages of these products in the local markets.
In addition to food items, the DTI also cautioned consumers about purchasing substandard Christmas lights. Bato emphasized that Christmas lights lacking the required PS (Product Standard) and ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) marks are potential fire hazards. The DTI plans to begin monitoring Christmas lights and related products next week to ensure compliance with safety standards.