As Filipinos prepare for their Christmas celebration, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfred Pascual gave a few tips for consumers, along with encouraging them to buy local in a bid to support domestic businesses and producers.
One tip is to visit and participate in the Kadiwa ng Pasko (KnP) trade fairs, which aim to provide affordable agricultural products such as rice, sugar, vegetables, fruits and fresh meat products, fish and other seafood products, coffee, processed milk, instant noodles, condiments and even local bags and footwear.
For areas without KnP, Pascaul said there are Diskwento Caravan or Rolling Store Caravans being conducted nationwide to bring quality basic necessities and prime commodities to consumers at lower cost. This is a DTI initiative in partnership with manufacturers and retailers of basic necessities and prime commodities.
Other Christmas-saving tips from the trade chief include planning what to purchase ahead of time, taking advantage of holiday promos, discounts and sales, and using the DTI SRP bulletin and Noche Buena Price Guide.
With the country still facing high prices and rising inflation rates, Pascual added that the DTI would continue to monitor the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities this Christmas season.
The upcoming holidays are going to be tougher for Filipinos, especially the majority who still have less in life. While we will need all the advice we can get with regards to weathering the storm, managing personal finances and somehow finding ways to still enjoy the season of giving, we will also need our government and its officials to work harder to lower prices and increase incomes in this country, instead of simply relying on the famed Filipino resilience to make up for shortcomings, missed targets and undelivered promises.*
