The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a new set of suggested retail prices (SRP) for basic agricultural commodities sold in Metro Manila’s wet markets, excluding supermarkets, as changing cost structures in the supply chain require updating to allow retailers to realize a reasonable profit while ensuring that consumers are protected from profiteering.
The updated SRP — contained in DA Administrative Circular (AC) No. 17, signed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar on November 26, 2020 — serves to guide retailers and consumers amid the Luzon-wide price freeze imposed in light of the pandemic and the series of calamities that have devastated the country.
The DA-AC 17 revokes other previous orders (ACs 16, 14, and 11) and will remain in effect for two months or until a new AC on the same matter is issued.
The new set of SRP covers seven categories: rice, livestock and poultry, fish, lowland and highland vegetables, fruits, spices, and other basic items. Their respective prices per kilogram (kg) are:
RICE
Local: special, P50; premium, P45; and well-milled, P40;
Imported: special, P52; premium, P45; and well-milled, P36;
LIVESTOCK & POULTRY
Beef rump, P380; brisket, P300;
Pork pigue/kasim, P260; liempo, P290;
Whole chicken, P140;
Chicken egg (medium), P6.50/piece;
FISH
Milkfish (bangus), P160;
Tilapia, P120;
Roundscad (galunggong) imported, P140;
Alumahan, P250;
LOWLAND VEGETABLES
Ampalaya, P120;
Sitaw, P100;
Pechay (native), P80;
Squash, P30;
Eggplant, P100;
Tomato, P100;
HIGHLAND VEGETABLES
Cabbage (Scorpio), P70;
Carrots, P80;
Habitchuelas (Baguio beans), P130
White potato, P70;
Pechay (Baguio), P80;
Chayote, P40;
FRUITS
Calamansi, P50;
Banana: lakatan, P90; latundan, P70;
Papaya, P60;
Mango (carabao), P150;
SPICES
Red onion local, P160; imported, P120;
White onion (imported), P100;
Garlic, P90;
Ginger, P160;
OTHER BASIC ITEMS:
Sugar – refined, P50; washed, P45; brown, P45;
Cooking oil (palm) – 350 ml, P25; and 1 liter, P50.
Those who fail to comply with the SRPs could be fined between P5,000 and P2 million and face imprisonment between five and 15 years.
Consumers who find SRP violators are encouraged to report to the DA — at (02) 8920-0925 and da.consumersprotection@gmail.com — so that appropriate corrective measures could be taken. ### (DA StratComms)
