DTI to cemetery goers: Buy candles and bottled waters in grocery stores, supermarkets

MANILA, Philippines — For those planning to visit their departed loved ones on this year’s “Undas,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has only one piece of advice: buy your candles and bottled waters in grocery stores and supermarkets.

DTI Ramon Lopez offered this tip on Wednesday amid reports of increased prices of the said products due to the upcoming holiday.

He explained that grocery stores and supermarkets follow the standard retail price (SRP) unlike vendors at cemeteries or even in bus terminals.

“Ang smartest way to do para sa mga consumer, kung gusto niyong makamura, bumili tayo sa grocery, supermarket kasi doon they follow SRP (If consumers want to buy cheaper products, they should go to groceries or supermarkets because they follow SRP),” Lopez said in a “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” forum.

“Baunin nyo na. ‘Yun na yung dala nyo. Wag kayo bibili lalo na last day or the same day, doon sa pintuan ng sementeryo, hindi na kontrolado ang presyo dyan (Just bring it with you to the cemetery. Don’t buy on the cemetery itself),” he added.

However, he warned grocery stores and supermarkets that fines from P5,000 up to P1 million await them should they violate the SRP.

“Ang consumer encouraged to file a complaint kapag may nakita silang violation (Consumers are encouraged to file a complaint if they see a violation),” the DTI official said.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to cemeteries for the observance of the All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and the All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2).

Malacañang has announced that work in government offices will be suspended beginning Thursday noon (Oct. 31), to give workers time to prepare for Undas.

READ:Malacanang: Half-day work in gov’t offices on Oct 31