Prices of goods in the tourist town of El Nido is way above the suggested retail price (SRP) during the months of May and June, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported.
DTI specialist Welson Paz said that during their monitoring operation in the municipality recently, they noted a 15 percent average mark-up on the prices of goods which is more than the SRP.
“Base doon sa monitoring ng May at June, walang pagbabago doon sa kanilang presyo pero kung ikumpara natin doon sa ating suggested retail price medyo may kataasan. Nakikita natin na kanilang ipinangako na at least meron isang brand sa kanilang mga tinitindang produkto na may available na mababa para doon sa ating mga consumer na di talaga maka-afford ng napakamahal,” Paz said.
Paz also said that they asked major groceries in El Nido to lower the prices of at least two out of four brands of sardines, noodles, and other basic goods for the poor residents of the town.
The highest-selling product is bottled water which costs 20-25 percent higher than the SRP for two to three brands sold in the market, he said.
He added that owners cited the high cost of freight in bringing bottled water to the town.
“Kasi kailangan din ng turista kaya talaga ang demand sa bottled water ay napakataas, minsan kinukulang sila ng supply dahil medyo may kalayuan at may issue din ang tubig nila don kaya komukunsumo talaga sila ng bottled water. Sa sardinas, hindi naman ganon pero medyo mataas nga lang talaga kaunti doon sa SRP natin compare don sa kalapit niyang munisipyo, yon ang tinitignan natin na pag-a-analyze,” Paz pointed out.
Prices of goods should not exceed the 10 percent mark up allowed by law that includes the computed expenses of transportation, freight, price of product bought from wholesale and other related expenses of purchasing and transporting the product, he said.
Meanwhile, in Puerto Princesa City most of the twenty major groceries monitored by DTI are complying with the SRP law, he said.
