By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that prices of basic commodities, including fuel, will remain stable until April 30.
This comes as a relief to consumers who have been hit hard by the recent surge in fuel prices.
During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, DTI Sec. Cristina Roque met with business leaders to secure assurances that prices would remain stable.
The meeting, which included representatives from Unilever, Nestle, and San Miguel Corporation, resulted in commitments to maintain prices for essential goods like canned sardines, bread, bottled water, instant noodles, and coffee until April 16.
However, Sec. Roque warned that prices may rise after April 16 due to global oil price trends.
The government is monitoring the situation closely and exploring measures to mitigate the impact on consumers.
The Philippines is vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations, and the recent surge has driven diesel prices over P160 per liter.
If prices rise further, it could impact transportation costs, food prices, and other essential goods.
ia/xf
