The Department of Trade and Industry is reminding consumers to do their Christmas shopping early to avoid crowding in shopping malls and grocery stores.
Glen Fernando, DTI Antique provincial office trade and industry specialist, said that since most of government employees have received their bonuses, they could already do their Christmas shopping and no longer wait for a few days before December 25.
“Consumers are advised to no longer wait for a last-minute shopping,” he said.
Starting Nov. 17, the office intensified the monitoring of Noche Buena products to make sure that prices of commodities will not exceed the Suggested Retail Price (SRP).
Aside from doing early shopping, consumers are also told to be wise buyers. “As wise buyers, they should not be brand conscious but grab the opportunity to buy products that are sold as premium in pack,” he said.
An example of premium in pack items is the spaghetti noodles that are sold in bundle with sauce and cheese or the salad macaroni with mayonnaise and creamer, which could be cheaper as compared when they are bought as single items.
Fernando said that shopping malls and stores will get a letter of inquiry if ever they will be found to have exceeded the SRPs.*PNA
