P.O. Box 1161, QCCPO, NCR, Philippines 1100
Cell No. : +63 917-812-5546
Email : labankonsyumer@gmail.com
: dimagibavic@gmail.com
: dmagiba@pldtdsl.net
Facebook: Laban Konsyumer Inc.
Website : www.labankonsyumer.com
LKI Press Statement 2021-027
July 21, 2021
CONSUMER GROUP HITS BANDWAGON AND WHOLESALE PRICE INCREASES
OF BASIC GOODS
Consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) and its President Atty. Vic Dimagiba recently warned and cautioned against the bandwagon on price increases of basic goods saying, “it is unfortunate that consumers are already being pressured by the upcoming wave of price increases, even though many Filipinos are still trying to recover from the effects of the ongoing pandemic. Many consumers still do not have stable means to provide for their families, and livelihoods are still being threatened by the COVID-19 situation. Thus, it was very alerting and concerning that the Department of Trade and Industry recently announced that the increase pf prices for manufacturers was approved after what they call a two-year period. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the price increase that will be effected and implemented immediately will go up to seven percent and this can possibly lead to an overall rise of around one peso. That is why our group continues to do the rounds in media so we can bring awareness to this very alarming trend of all manufacturuers bringing up their prices in the guise of having to recover from the negative effects of the pandemic. But from our observations, the food and supermarket industry has actually been well sustained because their operations have remained ongoing and 24/7 because even during a pandemic, they have been supplying the basic goods and needs of the Filipinos.”
As reported in the news, these are the major increases in the prices of major basic goods:
- Coffee – 3 percent or P0.15 per pack
- Milk – 1 percent or P0.50 per pack
- Sardines – 3 percent or P0.50 up to P0.75 per can
- Canned meat – 4 up to 7 percent or P0.75 up to P1 per can
- Instant noodles – 3 up to 4 percent or P0.25 up to P0.40 per pack
- No brand names were specified
Dimagiba explained that “the government is saying that they approved the price increase because of the increase as well in raw materials, and that is why the manufacturers got the go-signal. But it is our advocacy that during these difficult and challenging times, more attention and focus should be put on protecting poor and marginalized consumers and ensuring their welfare during this prolonged and ongoing pandemic. These basic goods and products are essential to consumers and their families, and bringing upon them a heavier burden such as rate hikes when it comes to these very basic goods and necessities will put an unfair burden on their wallets and the budgets of each and every household. That is why we at LKI are advocating to the supermarket groups and owners that they do not implement this wave of price increases. We at LKI are asking the supermarket owners to first protect the consumers from this wave of increases so they do not have to shed out additional pesos to provide for their families. The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association and its president Steven Cua said you cannot stop the price hikes because it is the manufacturers themselves who imposed the increases but we feel that it is the role as well of government and supermarket owners to reject this price increase. Even if, benefit of the doubt, the reasons of the manufacturers remain legitimate, there are still ways for the supermarket owners and government to explore possibilities to cushion the impact and the heavy blow of such price increases on the consumers. This bandwagon of price increases is a concerning sign of things to come in the coming months, and the biggest worry and fear is if this becomes a trend for the rest of the year, as economy is only starting to recover, and the big corporations may find the opening to take advantage of consumers through raising their costs and prices.”
Dimagiba concluded by saying “thus we are calling on government and private entities to continue looking for different ways to lessen the burden on consumers this year, and not to join the recent trending bandwagon of increasing the prices, especially on basic goods and necessities.”