There is sufficient supply of Noche Buena products in Iloilo as there is no massive buying for now, according to the monitoring of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In an interview Monday, DTI Iloilo officer-in-charge provincial director Felisa Judith Degala said even retailers and supermarkets were saying the sale of these products this year were not as considerable compared to last year.

“As of this time, some of our retailers feel the slack in sales of Noche Buena products,” she said.

However, Degala said the demand for the products will probably have its peak when it is almost near Christmas Day.

“The sufficiency of the product is never a question. Every year, our manufacturers assure us of sufficient supply in the market,” she said.

Among the popular Noche Buena products are ham, mayonnaise, spaghetti sauce, pasta, creamer, fruit cocktail, cheese and sandwich spread, among others.

Apart from sufficient supply, Degala added a lot of items have prevailing prices that are even lower than the suggested retail price (SRP).

“Monitored establishments are all compliant with the SRP and in fact there are those that are even selling lower than the SRP,” she added.

Degala said they are no longer anticipating any increase in SRP unless there are new developments. For now, they have not received any information coming from their central office.

Based on history, she said only one SRP is released all throughout the Christmas season.

If indeed there are clamors from manufacturers they wanted to increase the SRP, these should have been known at this time.

However, there are manufacturers that set a period if and when the SRP for Noche Buena products will be valid.

These included Angel condensed milk with SRP valid from Nov. 15 until Dec. 31, Dole and Seasons products from Dec. 1 to 20, while those of Today’s and Del Monte valid from Dec. 15 to 31.

“Based on our monitoring, even before the date that they set, they already complied with the SRP,” she said. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.pia.gov.ph