The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued its official price guide for Noche Buena items for the 2025 holiday season, offering Filipino families a mixed outlook. While many staples have maintained their prices, the agency cautions that some increases are inevitable, though it has also secured price rollbacks on several key products.
Price Stability and New Additions
In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to keep Christmas essentials affordable, the DTI's latest list monitors 256 products across 14 different categories. A significant portion of the market, 129 items, have retained their prices from the previous year. However, 95 products have seen minor price adjustments, which manufacturers attribute to rising costs for raw materials, packaging, and labor.
The 2025 guide also reflects changing consumer tastes by introducing new categories. Shoppers will now find nata de coco and kaong listed, catering to the growing demand for popular dessert ingredients.
Good News for Shoppers: Select Price Rollbacks
Following consultations with producers, the DTI successfully negotiated price reductions on six specific Noche Buena items. This provides a welcome relief for budget-conscious families.
Four ham brands have reverted to their 2024 price points. Notable reductions include CDO American Style Ham (500g), now priced at ₱170 instead of ₱174. King Sue products also saw cuts, with its Piña Ham (800g and 1 kg) now costing ₱520 and ₱637, down from ₱527 and ₱643, respectively. King Sue Sweet Ham (800g) saw a slight decrease to ₱449.
Beyond ham, other favorites are now more affordable. Danes Queso de Bola (500g) now costs ₱300, reduced from ₱310. Furthermore, Sunshine Sweet Style Spaghetti Sauce (500g) is now priced at ₱48.50, down from ₱52. Thanks to these adjustments, certain queso de bola and spaghetti sauce products are now priced lower than they were in 2024.
Ongoing Monitoring and Consumer Assurance
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque affirmed the agency's commitment to supporting households during the festive season. She emphasized that the DTI will actively monitor market prices in the coming weeks to ensure compliance and fairness.
Roque assured the public that the department remains dedicated to its goal of making holiday essentials accessible to all Filipinos, promising continued vigilance to protect consumers from unjustified price surges.
