FILIPINOS should be more “creative” when it comes to mix and match food items for the holiday season amid rising noche buena items, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles said that there need not be ham and spaghetti for Christmas, as there are alternatives to it.

She made the remark, as prices of 150 Noche Buena items have reported increases.

"Kaya po iyong challenge namin this year, maging malikhain tayo, kasi maaari naman katulad nga ng sabi natin earlier, hindi naman po kailangan pag sinabing Noche Buena kailangan hamon, kailangan spaghetti," she saidin an interview aired over TV station GMA.

"Puwede tayong mag mix-and-match dito sa price guide natin kasi 'yun nga po, basta magkakasama ang pamilya, nagbibigay, nagthe-thanksgiving tayo before Christmas," she added.

Earlier, the DTI release a price guide for noche buena items, where 152 out of 240 Christmas product lines — including ham, fruit cocktail, and spaghetti sauce — saw increases from last year.

She said that the shelf prices are higher than those indicated in the DTI guide, and those who do should reported to the agency.

“Kakausapin namin ang manufacturer para lang to bring to their attention, ma-alert lang sila na nabebenta iyong produkto nila sa ganitong retailer at this price na hindi naman sumusunod sa price guide,” she said.

Inflation slowed down to 4.1 percent in November, as it brought the year-to-date figure to 6.2%, still higher than the government’s target range of 2.0% to 4.0%.