PALO, Leyte – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional here has assured they will conduct special monitoring against overpricing of canned goods in the region while admitting that the foreseen increase in their prices may not be suspended.

Regional Director Cynthia Nierras said price watch groups in Metro Manila have already monitored increase in the price of some canned goods, but she said it has not yet affected Eastern Visayas as of now.

“Right now we don’t have increases yet. We can monitor it because it will just register in the prices of the goods in the market,” she said.

However, this early Nierras said she already instructed all the DTI provincial officers in the region to have special monitoring of basic commodities in the market and keep on guard particularly on the price of canned goods.

Nierras assured that if ever prices of canned goods in the region would increase, they will make sure they are not overpriced.

“While the prices of canned goods in the region are posing an increase, we have already asked from Manila for a detailed computation so we can have basis to compare the results o pierces monitoring,” Nierras told Express.

She added that before the prices increase is imposed in our place, “we need to see and compare the cost of the product from the manufacturing down to its distribution to ensure that if there will be increase it will not exceed the suggested price.”

But the DTI director admitted that the price of canned commodities would likely increase because the price of tin can, the primary material being developed for its packaging, has also increased.

Nierrras explained that all the tin cans being used in the country in the production of canned commodities are imported from foreign countries.

She added that if there is a plant that produces tin can in the Philippines, the material would also come from foreign countries.

“The price of tin can has increased right now because the price of oil/fuel has also increased, and this has brought corresponding effect on the distribution cost of tin can form factory down to the market,” Nierras pointed out.

However, Nierras stressed that the monitoring of prices of canned goods in the region has already been started saying they will make sure that increase in prices are comparable and justifiable; if ever there will be any

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