DTI steps up monitoring of reported price hikes

The Philippines' Department of Industry is stepping up its monitoring of cement prices following recent reports of price hikes.

"Our monitoring teams in all provinces and regions have been notified to conduct daily monitoring activities over the next two weeks on prices of cement bags," Victorio Mario Dimagiba, officer-in-charge of the DTI Consumer Protection Group told local press.

The DTI will issue show-cause orders to retailers, manufacturers, importers and distributors found to have increased prices, he said.

Cement firms are required to inform the DTI of price hikes but Dimagiba said there had been no advice from cement makers on planned increases.