Monitor ‘astronomical’ prices at 24/7 stores, Marcos asks DTI

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos on Monday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor the “astronomical” prices imposed by 24/7 convenience stores.

Marcos said it was “unjustifiable and even inhuman” for convenience stores to raise prices of basic commodities, such as canned goods and noodles, beyond the suggested retail prices (SRPs).

She noted how that difference in prices in some goods: a can of sardines at P21 per can in a sari-sari store but P27 in a 24/7 store; a bar of laundry soap at P11 in a sari-sari store but P15 in a 24/7 store; and a packet of instant coffee at P6 in a sari-sari store and P12 at a 24/7 store.

“Ano yan, ginto ang presyo?” Marcos said in a statement.

[Is that like the price of gold?]

The senator then asked DTI to deploy monitoring teams to check prices in convenience stores to stop them from imposing high prices on basic goods, particularly amid the “ber” months as Filipinos prepare for the Christmas season.

“Presyo pa rin ang pinag-uusapan dito. Kombinyente ka ngang bumili, pero napakamahal naman ng bilihin, eh, di wala rin! Ano yan, walang magbabantay sa kanila, basta sila na lang ang magdidikta ng kanila presyo?” she added.

[We’re talking about prices here. It may convenient to buy at those stores, but the goods are too expensive. Useless. What, just because nobody’s monitoring them they will just dictate their own prices?]

Marcos said it would be to the credit of the DTI if it could lower prices at convenience stores so that they become comparable to those in sari-sari stores and public markets.

/atm