DTI investigates alleged sugar price hike

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has started investigating reports of sugar being sold in some markets at up to P60/kilo. DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya on Thursday said there is no reason for vendors to sell sugar at prices that high, adding prices of the commodity had gone down to as low as P48/kilo, and that the milling season is over and there is no report of shortage. “Dapat malaman natin saang palengke yang P60 na sinasabi nila. Wala kaming natanggap na pasabi sa Department of Agriculture, o Sugar Regulatory Administration na nagkakaroon tayo ng problema (We will have to check markets selling sugar at that price. We have not received any advisory from the Department of Agriculture or Sugar Regulatory Administration about the need for a price hike)," Maglaya said in an interview on dzXL radio. Maglaya urged consumers to call the DTI hotline at 7513330 to report overpricing of the commodity. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV