Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) approved price hike of more than 100 Noche Buena products this Christmas season.
The products include ham, fruit cocktail, spaghetti, pasta, mayonnaise, cheese, and condensed milk.
The price hike for Noche Buena products ranges from 2 to 13 percent, depending on the type, brand, and size of the product. This equates to P3 to P76 per item.
According to DTI Asec. Claire Cabochan, the price hike was due to the increase in the production cost of some products such as canned goods.
It is also “Reasonable,” Cabochan added.
As a result, more than P100 per kilogram has been added to some “high-end” hams since the manufacturers reduced their ham production in the market.
According to DTI, the price increase was also an effect of ‘African Swine Fever’ where pork supplies were also scarce.
Nevertheless, ham products supplies are said to be enough this Christmas season.