MARCH 29, 2026 — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has assured the people that prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) will remain steady until April 16. After a meeting with major manufacturers and retailers, the DTI announced that companies have agreed to absorb rising logistics and inventory costs instead of passing them on to consumers.

We’re talking about household names — Alaska Milk, Century Pacific, Nestlé, San Miguel, Unilever, Monde Nissin, and even retail giants like SM Markets and Robinsons. Together, they pledged to hold the line on prices of items we buy every day: sardines, instant noodles, coffee, milk, soap, bread, bottled water, even candles.

The timing is crucial. With the Middle East conflict rattling global energy and shipping routes, the Philippines declared a national energy emergency under Executive Order 110. The DTI is now intensifying monitoring to ensure these promises translate into actual shelf prices. 

Profiteering won’t be tolerated. Any retailer caught raising prices by more than 10 percent without justification — or hoarding supplies — faces fines and even jail time.

This sounds like a win for consumers. But let’s not kid ourselves: manufacturers aren’t charities. If they’re absorbing costs now, they’ll look to recover later. The question is when — and how steep the eventual adjustments will be. 

For now, the freeze buys us breathing room, but are we just delaying the inevitable?

We must stay vigilant. The DTI hotline 1-384 (1-DTI) is there for a reason — because consumer protection only works if consumers speak up.

(Image: Philippine News Agency)