Consumers can heave a sigh of relief as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Friday there will be no price increase on basic necessities until the end of 2025.
This was confirmed by Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque to GMA News Online in a Viber message.
“Yes, confirmed,” she said.
In an ambush interview with reporters, Roque announced that “there will be no price increase in basic necessities and prime commodities until the end of the year.”
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, sinabing walang pagtaas sa presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin tulad ng sardinas, noodles, kape, gatas at iba pang basic necessities at prime commodities hanggang matapos ang taon. | via Bernadette Reyes/GMA Integrated News pic.twitter.com/KpNx8erfQC
— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) October 24, 2025
Asked if the DTI had asked manufacturers not to hike prices, Roque said, “Yes, all cooperate… no issues at all.”
The Republic Act 10623 or the Price Act defines basic necessities as “goods vital to the needs of consumers for their sustenance and existence,” while prime commodities are “goods not considered as basic necessities but are essential to consumers.”
Under the DTI’s jurisdiction, basic necessities include bread, canned fish, and other marine products, potable bottled water, processed milk, instant noodles, coffee, salt, laundry soap and detergents, and candles, among others.
Prime commodities, as per the DTI, include flour, canned pork and beef, vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce (patis), bath soap, cement, batteries, electrical supplies, and lightbulbs, among others. — VDV, GMA Integrated News