MANILA, Philippines — Several manufacturers are set to raise the prices of certain everyday products beginning April 1, following a steady climb in global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, a supermarket industry group reported.
In a statement to the INQUIRER on Friday, Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc., said some producers have already signaled upcoming price adjustments.
Affected items include bottled water, home care products, candies, and noodles.
Cua assured the public that essential goods such as canned food, milk, coffee, and bread will not be affected by these increases. “These basic items are not included,” he emphasized in Filipino.
The supermarket group noted that the price hikes would be relatively minor. For instance, bottled water in large gallons may increase by as much as P5, while smaller bottles ranging from 350 ml to 1 liter could see adjustments of only 25 to 50 centavos.
“Only products frequently used by businesses—cafes, bakeshops, restaurants, fast-food chains—will experience slight increases,” Cua explained.
He added that distribution costs are a key factor for some home care products, especially those containing imported chemicals, as transporting them from Visayas-Mindanao to Metro Manila adds to overall expenses.
Continuous fuel price hikes in the Philippines remain likely due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which escalated after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28.
IA/XF
