The situation, in brief
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended its price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities through May 10, 2026, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque announced, as the government continues weekly negotiations with manufacturers and retailers to keep shelves affordable amid…
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended its price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities through May 10, 2026, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque announced, as the government continues weekly negotiations with manufacturers and retailers to keep shelves affordable amid rising global oil prices.
Roque said DTI is monitoring 205 stock-keeping units — covering essential food and household products available in supermarkets and groceries nationwide — under the price stability commitment, which has been renewed multiple times since it took effect in mid-March.
The freeze has been extended in successive two-week intervals: from March 16 to March 30, then to April 16, then to April 30, and now to May 10, with Roque saying another update will be issued after the next round of meetings this coming week.
Asked whether the price freeze would hold through May 10, Roque said: “Yes, tama po ‘yun. Nag-uusap talaga kami nang masinsinan with all of the manufacturers, and of course, meron silang mga issues na nire-resolve. Pero in the end of our meeting, nag-a-agree po kami that we must keep the price stable para maibigay naman sa ating mga consumers ‘yung mababang presyo.”
“Utos po kasi ng Presidente sa akin — sabi ni Presidente BBM, ‘Make sure, Kris, that we keep the prices of food stable para sa ating mga kababayan,'” she added.
The secretary said cooperation from the private sector has been strong. She cited one major company that had already filed a letter requesting a price increase but later withdrew it, committing to hold prices steady.
Roque acknowledged that manufacturers are under pressure, particularly from higher logistics costs tied to elevated global oil prices, but said ongoing dialogue has kept the agreement intact. “There’s really cooperation now between the government, the manufacturers, and the retailers,” she said.
DTI’s 18 regional offices are conducting daily price monitoring and enforcement across supermarkets and grocery chains, with Roque noting that prices are standardized across major retail networks from Luzon to Mindanao.
The secretary urged the public against panic buying and hoarding, saying supply remains sufficient. “Marami po tayong pagkain para sa inyo,” she said, adding that the Robinsons supermarket president had also confirmed no supply problems.
