The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has approved raising the suggested retail prices of salt because its price has not been moving for several years.
In a bulletin issued on August 12, 2022, the DTI approved the price of P21.75 for 500 grams of iodized rock salt, and P23.00 for one kilogram.
For iodized salt, the SRP for a 100-gram pack is P4.50; while P9.00 to P11.75 for 250 grams; from P16.00 to P21.25 for 500 grams; and P29.00 for one kilogram.
According to Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, the last time the price of salt in the country moved was six years ago.
He also clarified that there is no shortage of salt supply.
“On the issue of supply, we have sufficient supply kasi marami tayo… We have three or four large companies na gumagawa ng asin tapos meron pa tayong mga imported,” he explained in a public briefing.
Price of sweet potatoes increases due to shortage
The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that the supply of sweet potatoes in the country has decreased due to the increase in their price.
In a report by Joseph Morong on GMA News “24 Oras” this Thursday, the DA said that the supply of sweet potatoes began to decrease last month.
“Hindi masyadong lalaki ang kamote kapag tag-ulan. Sa ngayon, tag-ulan, kulang ‘yon. Talagang kulang (ang suplay),” said DA Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.
“Medyo kakaunti ngayon pero pagdating na ng October, November, December, hindi na apektado ‘yan dahil lalaki na. At least, mumura na ‘yan,” he explained.
In the Balintawak market, a kilo of sweet potatoes costs P45, higher than its previous price of P25 to P35 per kilo.
Panganiban also said that sweet potatoes come from Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Northern Luzon — which was recently hit by Typhoon Florita.
He said he had instructed the Bureau of Plant Industry to get data to determine how much the supply of sweet potatoes has been reduced.
According to Philippine Statistics Authority, sweet potato production in the country increased to 278,330 metric tons from January to June 2022. This compares to 273,090 MT harvested during the same period in 2021.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.