The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) has committed not to increase the prices of Christmas hams this year and instead absorb the higher cost of production, according to Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Lopez said in a text message to reporters PAMPI members especially major brands CDO, Virginia Foods and Century will heed the call of DTI not to have any price increase due to pandemic and financial difficulties of Filipinos.
Lopez said the members will so they would make their products more affordable this Christmas.
The DTI is yet to make a decision on the request if manufacturers of Noche Buena products were seeking up to 3 percent price increase to cover the cost of rising raw materials.
Other Noche Buena products being monitored by DTI iclude cheese including queso de bola pastas (spaghetti and salad and elbow macaroni), spaghetti and tomato sauces and cream, fruit cocktail, sandwich spread and mayonnaise.
Meanwhile, Lopez said as of October, the DTI has not noted any price increases in basic commodities, except for pork.
Prices of rice, chicken and some vegetables remain steady, the DTI said. – Irma Isip
