Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar together with Trade Secretary Ramon T. Lopez and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año visited the Nepa Q-Mart in Quezon City on February 24, to monitor if the vendors complied with the Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) set by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
During their inspection, the Department Secretaries noted that chicken was sold at P160 per kilo in about five stalls, which is P30 beyond the SRP. Garlic and onion were also sold way beyond SRP at P140-180/kilo.
“Aside from chicken, garlic and onion, most of the food commodities sold here complied with the SRP and at the right price. It’s a good start,” Dar said.
“I’m hoping na iyong trader ng chicken ay makipagtulungan na rin at huwag sobrang kabig,” he added.
Sec. Lopez said that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will issue a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for the non-compliant stalls. Traders who are found guilty will be given proper sanctions.
Lopez added that DTI will continue to monitor the implementation of SRP to public markets.
“Importante ang team effort especially iyong namamalakad sa mga palengke at local government kasi sila ang nakakaalam at nakakamonitor din,” Dar said.
The Secretaries also agreed to review on imposing “traders’ price” or price cap on agri goods sold by traders to retailers.
On February 20, DA issued an Administrative Circular no. 1 to set SRP on pork (pigue/kasim) at P190/kilogram (kg); chicken (whole, dressed) at P130/kg; sugar (raw, brown) at P45/kg; sugar (refined) at P50/kg; bangus (cage-cultured) at P162/kg; tilapia (pond-cultured) at P120/kg; galunggong (imported) at P130/kg; garlic (imported) at P70/kg; garlic (local) at P120/kg; and red onion (imported) at P95/kg. The SRP covers all markets in Metro Manila.
Under the Price Act, SRP protects consumers from “hoarding and profiteering activities of unscrupulous traders and cartels who manipulate for their advantage the supply, distribution, marketing and prices of basic agri-fishery goods.” ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
