Gabriela solon says DTI’s product downsizing to affect consumers

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Consumers will suffer under the move of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to authorize downsizing, or reduction in product quantities to adjust for inflation, the Gabriela party-list said on Thursday.

According to Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, downsizing means there will be compromises in product quality, which will victimize consumers.

“Hindi makatarungan na payagan ang mga negosyo na bawasan ang laki ng kanilang produkto upang mapanatili ang kita dahil sa huli, ang mga mamimili ang biktima dahil sa kawalan ng dekalidad at abot-kayang produkto para sa lahat,” Brosas said.

(It’s not fair to allow businesses to reduce sizes of their products to maintain their profits because in the end, buyers will suffer from quality cuts and affordable products for all.)

READ: Shrinkflation: DTI okays downsizing of key goods

Brosas added that this move will only push buyers to purchase more in the long run, which will be expensive for them.

“Such move would only push the poor to buy ‘tingi-tingi’ or goods in small portions rather than in bulk quantities, which will result in higher overall costs for consumers in the long run,” Rep. Brosas added.

READ: DTI to boost implementation of senior citizen discount

The lawmaker proposed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to instead prioritize workers rather than businesses, and to raise workers’ salaries.

“We challenge President Marcos Jr. to prioritize legislation which will increase wages. Stop coddling big businesses and ensure that workers get their much-needed higher wages amid this economic crisis,” Rep. Brosas ended.