DTI-7: Cement prices, supply stable

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the growing anxiety on reports that there is an insufficient supply of cement in the country and prices have escalated, the Department of Trade and Industry-7 have assured that there is no such scenario in the region, particularly in Cebu.

Zaide Bati-on, the division head of Trade and Industry Regulatory Enforcement Industry of DTI-7 said that they have not received any complaint yet on the lack of supply or increase in prices from consumers or companies that deals with cement.

Bati-on said that along with the industries that would be affected if the reports would be true like the construction industry, they are thankful that prices have remained stable from the past months.

She said that according to their constant price monitoring as well, they have not noted of any change in the prices nor on problems of lack of supply.

This also goes for other provinces in the region said Bati-on which gets their cement supply also in Cebu.

So far, prices remain at P198 per bag as the lowest price for APO Portland and the highest at P202 per bag. Prevailing price is at P190 per bag.

According to Bati-on, the region has not experience any shortage in supply of cement since we have two major suppliers of cement who she said were gracious enough not to sympathize with the reports of an increase in prices.

Bati-on said though that they have received circulars from their main office asking them to closely monitor the supply in the region and the prices, which they have been doing but so far have not seen any changes.

She said that there is also no need to send reminders or warnings to the distributors and the suppliers of cement in the region since they have good faith that these people would not take advantage of the moment where there are reports coming from other regions of the insufficiency.

Aside from this, Bati-on said that prices in other commodities and basic necessities are still the same as it was in the previous months despite reports saying that prices are expected to rise.