Suppliers vow: no price hike in construction materials

WITH the shift to rebuilding and rehabilitation of typhoon-hit areas, several suppliers of hardware and construction materials assured there won’t be any increase in prices of their supplies, at least until the end of the year.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella yesterday got the assurance from the six suppliers based in Cebu City after their meeting where they discussed prices and supply of essential materials needed in the rehabilitation efforts of Yolanda survivors.

“Everybody, those involved in hardware sector and manufacturing of construction goods, nails, steel bars and roofing sheets, cooperated in our commitment that there will be continuity of supplies and stability of prices. That there will be no price increase until the end of December 2013 because these are badly needed for rebuilding houses,” said Edna Tan, Joyland Industries’ representative,

She said their prices are within the price range recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

However, she said they won’t be able to assure that there will be no price increase next year.

“As manufacturers, the problem is that raw materials are mostly imports so we have to rely on international prices next year. I hope everything goes well especially in the first quarter of 2014 so that there will be no price increases,” Tan added.

Other concerns that also have to be considered is operating cost like power and labor wages.

The other suppliers who joined the meeting are Vic Enterprise, Atlantic Hardware, Cebu Home & Builders, Cebu Home Center and Cebu Oversea Hardware.

Labella said he set the meeting after several groups and individuals approached the city government to ask how they could help the typhoon victims.

“I told international organizations and groups that at this point, there are too much relief goods. It’s better to start rebuilding to be able to move on. So, I suggested that they purchase construction materials,” Labella said.

Meanwhile, DTI’s price freeze is still active and that they still need the help of everybody to track violators, said DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte.

“We don’t have problems with supply, our problem is we really can’t check everyone that is why we will really need you to report to us a specific store that has violated the Price Freeze so that we can go directly to them,” Caberte said.