Cup noodle prices on the rise — DTI

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned retailers yesterday against taking advantage of the typhoon and floods by raising the prices of canned goods and cup noodles, pointing out that these products are not affected by the recent rains.

At the same time, the DTI also warned wet market vendors not to violate the Price Tag Law or tamper with weighing scales.

DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the DTI is intensifying its price and market monitoring to safeguard consumers.

Cristobal has been personally visiting wet markets to monitor the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities. His visits also aim to ensure that wet market vendors adhere to the Price Tag Law.

The DTI has also been checking weighing scales in the wet markets to ensure that they reflect the correct weight of goods.

Cristobal said the DTI is "making sure that consumers get the right value for their hard-earned money."

He admitted that while some unscrupulous vendors might not have increased their prices substantially, they could be under-weighing their goods instead, which is illegal.

Cristobal said that under the Price Tag Law, proper price tags must indicate the amount per unit. He added that merely placing P50, for example, instead of P50 per kilogram is against the law.

He also advised consumers to look for the market master if they doubt the vendor’s weighing scale and make a complaint to ensure that the weighing scale is properly calibrated.

Cristobal said the recent rains have only affected the prices of vegetables and fish, the deliveries of which were disrupted by the floods and heavy downpour caused by typhoons Aere and Chaba on Wednesday and Thursday.