Particularly in major urban centers across the nation.
In his statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that the department will be beefing up its price monitoring in public wet markets in 2026.
This is part of its “tougher push to keep food prices fair and stable, warning retailers that unjustified price hikes will not be tolerated,” according to the Department of Agriculture.
Tiu Laurel said the DA will strictly enforce existing rules requiring traders and retailers to explain sharp increases in the prices of basic agricultural products, including rice, vegetables, fish and meat.
“We have already issued show-cause orders. I want the summaries of their explanations submitted to me so we can study what cases to file,” Tiu Laurel said, with him adding that those who fail to cooperate may face formal complaints and further investigation in coordination with other enforcement agencies.
For retailers who submit incomplete or misleading reports on pricing and sources of supply, they could be cited for providing false information, according to him.
In spite of DA’s limited enforcement authority, Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of close coordination with the appropriate enforcement agencies in implementing rules against profiteering and other prohibited acts under the Price Act.
“If they are not cooperating and the information they give is false or lacking, that becomes subject to further investigation. The mere fact that the police are asking questions already makes a difference. We are not talking about arrests, but calling them in to explain where their goods really come from,” he said.
He then acknowledged gaps in the current legal framework and renewed his call for stronger enforcement powers for the DA.
This include the proposed legislation being prepared in Congress to create a dedicated enforcement arm similar to the DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau.
For now, the Agriculture department will focus its price monitoring activities on major urban centers such as Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, where price spikes have the biggest impact on consumers.