The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VI conducted a synchronized price monitoring
operation covering all six provinces in Western Visayas on October 26.
DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual led the synchronized DTI nationwide “Undas Bantay Presyo” together
with the DTI regional offices and in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
and local government units.
These were held simultaneously to ensure that the prices of candles, flowers and bottled waters
covered by the Price Act were kept within the allowed range.
The key cities or major trading centers for monitoring in Region 6 are Kalibo in the province of Aklan,
San Jose de Buenavista in Antique, Roxas City in Capiz, Jordan town in Guimaras, Iloilo City, and
Bacolod City in Negros Occidental province.
Throughout the region, DTI personnel held inspections on various locations, including retail markets,
transport terminals, and flower shops strategically located in key trading areas.
DTI Antique visited three locations for monitoring of bottled water and candles, a mall, a
supermarket, a terminal of
buses and vans, and five flower shops for monitoring, while DTI Roxas City visited 11 establishments.
It can be noted that common suppliers of flowers are from Benguet, Baguio, and Cebu for locally
produced flowers while there are few who sell imported ones with dealers from Manila.
During the monitoring, DTI-Guimaras OIC provincial director Romel Amihan noted that the majority of
the retailers complied with the suggested retail prices (SRP) and there is also a sufficient supply of
bottled water and candles.
The Oplan Bantay Presyo: Undas 2023 initiative particularly aims to closely monitor and ensure fair
prices of essential goods such as candles and bottled water, with special attention given to monitoring
flower prices as the nation prepares to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November
1-2 this year.
Based on the latest SRP bulletin, the price of bottled mineralized water ranges from P7.15 to P75 for
330 ml to six liters.
Candles, on the other hand, have SRPs ranging from P33.42 to P177.71, depending on the number of
candles per pack.
The Department is enjoining the public to report to their nearest DTI offices or through the DTI
hotline (DTI-1384) should there be practices observed that violate consumer welfare.
