00:00The Department of Trade and Industry admitted the possibility of increasing the price of goods, but the Ministry of Finance also assured that it will not reach 5 percent.
00:12Meanwhile, the implementation of the maximum suggested retail price for imported rice for this January is already underway.
00:19That is Isaiah Mirafuente's report.
00:22Twice a month, Alaysa goes to the grocery store.
00:27They have a lot of residents in their house and they are able to afford their 12,000 pesos budget for groceries every month.
00:34If you look at it, it's big. But it seems like Alaysa only bought a handful.
00:38That's why she's worried if the price of goods will increase.
00:42Of course, it's hard, especially for people like us. We don't have that much work. It's hard.
00:49But according to the Department of Trade and Industry, it's possible that the price of goods will increase.
00:54But they assured that it will not reach 5 percent.
00:59Actually, these manufacturers, they really also understand the plight of the consumers.
01:04They understand. So we also have constant conversations and constant meetings with them.
01:12Some of the expected increases are bread, sardines, noodles, coffee, and milk.
01:18While the Department of Archiculture will set the maximum suggested retail price for imported rice.
01:24According to the DA, from January 20, the most expensive imported rice is already 58 pesos.
01:30We cannot set it. We will recommend to the President price ceilings.
01:34The President will declare the price ceilings.
01:38As of now, the price of imported rice has reached 65 pesos.
01:43They will also consult with the supermarkets so that the expected price of imported rice can be followed.
01:50The DA is slowly starting to sell imported rice at the price of 36 pesos.
01:56And through this, the price of rice can be lowered.
02:00Maybe a little. Because of course, if more people buy the imported rice, then the demand shifts.
02:07The demand moves from this 5 percent rice to imported rice.
02:12It is expected that there will be a full launching of imported rice in the next few days.
02:18From PTV, this is Sayanira Fuentes, Balitang Pambansa.
