In preparation for the holiday season, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental has ramped up its efforts to monitor the prices of Noche Buena products across major retail outlets in Dumaguete City. Krystle Jade Bato, spokesperson for DTI-Negros Oriental, confirmed that the initiative, which began last month, involves weekly checks at seven key stores including those in Robinsons Mall, Lee Super Plaza, Cang’s Inc., and City Mall.
The focus of the monitoring is on essential Christmas Eve feast items such as ham, fruit cocktail, mayonnaise, pasta, queso de bola, sandwich spread, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce. According to Bato, the price increases observed so far have been minimal. Additionally, there have been no reports of hoarding or shortages of these products in the local market.
Alongside food items, the DTI is also preparing to monitor the safety and quality of Christmas lights starting next week. Bato emphasized the importance of purchasing lights that bear the PS and ICC marks, which indicate compliance with safety standards. Lights without these certifications are considered substandard and pose a significant fire risk.