The Department of Trade and Industry has allowed the price increase of some canned sardines, among other products belonging to basic necessities and prime commodities, starting next month, as the DTI maintained that they are striking a balance on the welfare of both consumers and manufacturers.

“Out of the 217 SKUs (stock keeping units), 72 percent, or 154 SKUs, have no price increase, while the remaining 28 percent, or 63 SKUs, have a minimal 5 to 10 price increase. The prices of raw materials have increased, and we also understand the (burden) of manufacturers,” Trade Secretary Christina Roque told reporters on Friday.

"As much as we want to protect our consumers, we must also defend our manufacturers," she further stressed.

Roque said some brands of canned sardines will spike by 5 percent, luncheon meat (5 percent), meatloaf (4 percent), and vinegar at 2.8 percent, among others.

“The new SRP will be released on 1 February as we are giving manufacturers the time to replace their price tags in the supermarkets,” Roque said.

In protecting manufacturers, Roque said the DTI does not want them to suffer the burden as these traders employ workers.

“We don’t want them to terminate people from their jobs. We just have to make sure that there is a win-win situation for both parties.

It was last January 2024 when the DTI released an official SRP.

The DTI provides updated SRPs for basic necessities and prime commodities such as, but not limited to, canned and other food products, bottled water, dairy, and common household or kitchen supplies.