SEVERAL products under basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) were granted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to increase their suggested retail prices (SRPs).

DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Marie Nograles said that only a “small percentage” or 63 items out of 217 shelf keeping units (SKUs), will be increasing their prices this month.

According to Nograles there are various manufacturers from the 63 items that had asked that an SRP hike be allowed due to the higher raw materials and other operation costs.

The DTI said that an average price increase of the SKUs is only 6 percent, which is lower compared to the 10 percent average SRP hike that was marked between 2022 and 2023.

“For the food items, the price adjustment is only around 25 centavos to PHP7.25 pesos,” Nograles said.

The Executive Order 41 that was issued by Malacañang in September 2023, suspends the collection of pass-through fees by local government units from vehicles transporting goods, has had an impact in taming the price increase requested by manufacturers.

“If you will also look at the categories with price adjustments, not all brands and variants in each category have filed for notice of price adjustments,” she added.

Among BNPCs that will increase their SRPs include canned sardines, processed milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, bottled water, processed canned meat, canned beef, and condiments for food products, as well as toilet soap, candle and battery for non-food items.