DTI OKs “reasonable” price hike on bikes and gadgets for online classes

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo has asked businesses to keep price increases on bicycles and gadgets for online classes reasonable while the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pakiusap po natin sana sa business na nagbebenta nitong produkto na, kung magtataas ng presyo ang negosyo para sa bike and laptops, kung pwede po yung reasonable increase lang na hindi po masyadong malaki na masyadong masakit for the consumers (We request businesses selling bikes and laptops, if you are going to raise prices of those, to keep them reasonable and not painful to consumers),” Castelo said.     

Castelo said the DTI understands that businesses also need to regain their losses for the past two and a half months.

Castelo however said the DTI will monitor the movement of prices on bicycles and gadgets to ensure that sellers will not also take advantage of consumers. 

Complaints may be forwarded through the DTI’s consumer hotline number 1384. 

“On the consumers’ side, kung mayroong bahagyang increase na gagawin yung mga nagbebenta, report po nila sa atin and we will see if naging unreasonable po ang increase nila (if they notice suspicious price increases, they should report it to us and we will check if their increase is unreasonable), and we will take action on it,” she said.

Castelo also reminded online businessmen to comply with the suggested retail prices for basic and prime commodities. She said more than 2,000 DTI employees are on the lookout for online sellers who are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.

Castelo meanwhile called on landlords to observe the 30-day grace period before collecting residential or commercial rental fees especially in Metro Manila where economic activity has just been restarted. 

She said tenants who have already resumed work can pay their landlords under a six-month installment scheme so that it would be easier for them to pay their rents. Tenants are required to execute a promissory note for this.