Intensifying surveillance to keep food prices in check amid the surge in demand before Christmas day.
On Thursday, December 18, the Department of Agriculture (DA) led a joint price and supply inspection at the Muñoz Public Market in Quezon City.
Present during which were Asec. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra and representatives from tbe Quezon City government, Food Terminal Inc., the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine National Police.
Early in their inspection, 12 onion stalls were seen selling above the Maximum Suggested Retail Price, which is pegged at PHP150 per kilogram for red onions and PHP120 per kilogram for white onions. They were issued a show-cause order.
20 pork stalls were also selling meat beyond government-set MSRPs of PHP370 per kilo for liempo and PHP330 per kilo for kasim and pigue.
Guevarra stressed that continuous market monitoring is crucial, particularly during the Christmas season when demand for basic food commodities significantly increases.
“Hindi tayo magdadalawang-isip na magpatupad ng kaukulang aksyon laban sa mga nagbebenta na lumalabag sa itinakdang MSRP. The show-cause orders give them the opportunity to explain, but at the same time, this sends a clear message that overpricing will not be tolerated,” she said.
The official also noted that monitoring will remain continuous and be further stepped up, “Mahalaga ang tuloy-tuloy na price and supply monitoring lalo na ngayong papalapit ang Pasko. This ensures that sapat ang suplay, patas ang presyo, at hindi naaabuso ang ating mga mamimili sa panahong mas mataas ang demand.”
For his part, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will further ramp up price monitoring as Christmas Day approaches. “There will be no letup in our campaign for fair food prices — even, and especially, during the holidays,” he said.