By: Jaimie Rose R. Aberia
The Market Administration Office (MAO) of the city government of Manila will implement constant monitoring of the price movements of Noche Buena products and other basic commodities as the Yuletide season nears.
MAO chief Annie Balboa said market masters in each of the 17 public markets in the city are now under strict instructions to monitor the prices of goods and report unscrupulous vendors and stallholders.
Mayor Joseph Estrada ordered the price watch as he noted that the start of “Ber” months, prices of Noche Buena products usually start to go up, much higher than suggested retail price (SRP).
These items include pasta, cheese balls, canned fruit cocktails, hams, macaroni, spaghetti and tomato sauces, as well as fresh fruits. Prices of basic commodities like rice, meat, sugar, coffee, and canned good also tend to go up starting November.