As the national government intensifies its market monitoring efforts in Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the local government of Makati City conducted a special joint price and supply monitoring on basic necessities and prime commodities at the Guadalupe Market on August 20, 2024. The activity aims to ensure that retailers comply with the price freeze and supplies remain sufficient in key markets.
The inspection team was led by DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, and DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Director Junibert De Sagun together with DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, DTI Undersecretary Ed Sunico, and DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Director Atty. Fhillip Sawali. The team also inspected nearby groceries around Guadalupe Market.
The DTI imposed a 60-day price freeze on essential items such as canned sardines, processed milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, salt, laundry soap, bottled water, and candles in the National Capital Region (NCR). The freeze follows the declaration of a state of calamity due to the damages caused by Super Typhoon Carina. It will remain in effect until September.
The measure aims to protect consumers from price gouging and ensure access to essential goods at reasonable prices during the crisis.
During the market visit, officials engaged with vendors to gather qualitative insights on the challenges they face concerning the supply and pricing of commodities. This is also aimed at collecting real-time data from sellers, buyers, and administrators to better understand market dynamics, pricing strategies, and supply chain issues.
The DA officials also inquired retailers’ compliance with the necessary certifications to ensure that the pork entering Metro Manila is safe in response to the surge of African Swine Fever (ASF) in some parts of the country. This is part of the Department’s heightened efforts to control and contain the spread of the disease. ### (Kristel Joyce L. Merle, DA-AFID)
