Albay residents, small retailers adjust spending as fuel prices rise

Business | Marketing Posted on 2026-03-12 00:29:04

LEGAZPI CITY – Consumers and small business owners in Albay are taking practical steps to manage their budgets as worries grow over potential increases in commodity prices due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Vilma Perez, 47, a housewife from a minimum-wage-earning family, said stable prices would be a big help for households, especially those dealing with daily transportation and school expenses.

“For me, it’s better if prices remain the same because it’s already difficult for consumers when goods become expensive, especially now that there are school days and we have to spend on transportation,” she said in an interview.

Perez noted that higher fuel prices could eventually push up the cost of goods, making it harder for businesses to keep prices steady. To cope, her family has begun conserving electricity and water by unplugging appliances when not in use and doing laundry in batches.

Meanwhile, Nardito Aguallo, 39, who runs a sari-sari store in Mabinit, Legazpi City, said small retailers earn only minimal profits.

“For small businesses like sari-sari stores, our profit is only a few pesos. If the prices of goods don’t increase, we also won’t add to the markup,” Aguallo said.

He added that store owners may have no choice but to adjust prices if suppliers raise their costs, as their current earnings are already limited.

The Department of Trade and Industry in Bicol (DTI-5) assured the public that the supply and prices of basic goods remain stable despite global challenges.

“Our continuous price and supply monitoring, along with close coordination with retailers and local government units, ensures that basic goods remain available to the public,” DTI-5 Regional Director Dindo Nabol said in a statement on Wednesday.

Recent monitoring by the agency showed that major retailers maintain adequate inventories and continue to comply with suggested retail prices, helping keep goods affordable for consumers.

Nabol also urged the public to avoid panic buying, emphasizing that supply chains remain fully operational. He said regular advisories are being issued to guide retailers and consumers, while enforcement teams continue to watch for unfair trade practices.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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