In light of the summer season, DTI has been asked to monitor cooling appliance prices.

We purchase air conditioning, electric fans, and anything else that will make us feel cold because we are aware of how hot it is in the Philippines and it feels like walking into an oven. This gives malls and other retailers the opportunity to mark it up significantly, which is not ideal.

After a lawmaker expressed concerns about some retailers raising prices to capitalize on the high demand during the hot summer season, the Department of Trade and Industry has been urged to monitor cooling appliance prices.

Geraldine Roman, a representative for Bataan's first district, said in a statement on Thursday that it is important to ensure the affordability of appliances like electric fans and air conditioners because many households may require them as the heat index in many places continues to rise.

Roman reported that several customers had already noticed an increase in these appliances' prices as the summer wore on.

“Ang electric fan dapat ang pinakamurang pamatid init na abot kaya kahit ng mga pamilyang Pinoy na salat sa yaman.  Hindi dapat mabutas ang kanilang mga bulsa para lang makaramdam ng kaginhawaan ngayong panahon ng tag-init,” the lawmaker, who heads the House committee on women’s rights and gender equality, said.

“Kung ‘di mababantayan ang presyo niyan, baka liparin na tayong lahat dahil hindi na makayang bilhin,” she added.