Tighter pricing rules for bottled water at airports

A senior official from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday they were considering stricter price regulations on bottled water sold at airports across the country, aiming to ensure fair pricing for travelers and prevent excessive markups.

Vivien Alarcado, assistant division chief at the DTI’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau, said they have already conducted price monitoring in various airports across the country to assess the prices of essential goods, including bottled water.

“We will have to review our agreement with the airport to lower the prices of bottled water,” she said, adding that they will also mobilize their fair trade and enforcement group, which is responsible for monitoring and addressing pricing concerns related to basic necessities and prime commodities.