San jose de buenavista: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique will issue a local automatic price control (APC) amid the declaration of the national state of calamity to guide consumers and establishments on the prices of basic commodities. Mary Jade Gonzales, DTI Antique provincial director, stated in an interview that the local APC will make the prices of basic commodities in Antique realistic.
According to Philippines News Agency, the national and local prices of commodities vary, which led DTI Antique to seek permission from its central and regional offices to issue its own APC. Gonzales mentioned that transportation cost is a factor affecting prices. The agency’s monitoring showed discrepancies, such as a seven-liter Wilkins distilled water being sold at PHP90 in Antique, compared to PHP88 in the national APC bulletin. Similarly, a 23-gram Nescaf© Classic is sold at PHP26.90 locally, while the national bulletin lists it at PHP32.
The local APC is expected to be released either on Friday or next week. Meanwhile, Gonzales assured that there is enough supply of goods even until Christmastime. Despite high demand, especially for bread, due to Typhoon Tino, bakeries and stores have maintained sufficient supply. DTI Antique conducts daily monitoring of basic commodity prices in major stores, particularly in San Jose de Buenavista, to ensure compliance with the APC and adequate supply.
