Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque has called for public calm following the declaration of a National Energy Emergency, asserting that the country maintains a sufficient supply of essential goods despite global economic pressures.
In an interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Roque emphasized that there is no justification for panic-buying or predatory pricing.
"There is no need to panic, no need to hoard, and no need to profiteer because we have a supply of food," the Secretary stated, noting that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has similarly confirmed stable inventory levels.
The assurance comes as the DTI begins enforcing the provisions of Executive Order (EO) 110. The directive mandates the agency to implement remedies against "excessive and unreasonable" price increases on basic necessities and prime commodities.
Beyond price monitoring, the DTI is tasked with supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promoting renewable energy solutions in the manufacturing and logistics sectors to reduce petroleum dependence.
As of March 25, the DTI monitoring showed no price increases among the 205 stock-keeping units (SKUs) on the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) list, which includes canned goods, coffee, bottled water, and milk.
Roque attributed this stability to manufacturers utilizing existing inventories produced before the recent spike in energy costs.
“Ito yung mga produkto na nasa groceries and supermarkets. These are 205 SKUs ng mga produkto. Mga delata, kape, bottled water, noodles, may kandila, cup noodles, gatas. So wala pa ho. Wala pa hong price increase po," she explained.
However, Roque acknowledged that rising fuel and electricity costs would eventually impact production and logistics. The DTI is scheduled to meet with manufacturers this week to evaluate any potential requests for price adjustments.
"We will relay the results of our discussions to the public immediately," Roque said, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency and consumer protection during the state of emergency.
