Government expands SRP for more agriculture products

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is expanding the suggested retail price (SRP) for basic commodities to protect consumers from abnormal increases in prices amid the extended enhanced community quarantine.

In a virtual briefing yesterday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he has issued an administrative circular that includes more commodities covered by the price freeze and SRP.

The Philippines is currently under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic and the Price Act mandates that prices of basic necessities shall automatically be frozen at their prevailing prices.

“These (new) commodities (in the list) are the most common ones that the public buys,” Dar said.

The law also aims to ensure the availability of basic and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return on investment.

Under the expanded SRP, pork liempo should have a price of P225 per kilogram. Based on latest market monitoring of the DA, the commodity is priced at P233/kilo to as high as P260/kilo in some markets.

The DA also set an SRP for both imported and local rice.

For imported special rice, the prices should be at P51/kilo, premium at P42, well-milled at P40 and regular-milled at P39/kilo.

As for local rice, SRP for special is now at P53/kilo, premium at P45, well-milled at P40 and regular-milled at P33/kilo.

Currently, these local rice varieties can be bought at higher prices of P55, P48, P45, and P36, respectively.

The government subsidized rice being sold by the National Food Authority will remain at P27/kilo.

For fish commodities, local roundscad or galunggong should be at P130/kilo versus the current P168. Imported galunggong is already included in the earlier SRP list at P130/kilo.

For eggs, medium-sized should be priced at P6.50 per piece. Current price is at P6.74 to a high of P8 per piece.

As for cooking oil, SRP for 30 ML is at P24, while one liter oil is priced at P50. This is versus the current prices of P23 and P55, respectively.

Further, the earlier list of SRP which covered seven other commodities will remain.

For fully dressed chicken, SRP is at P130/kilo. Average price at some markets is even lower at P128.

For other fish commodities, milkfish or bangus is priced P162/kilo and tilapia at P120. Currently, bangus can be bought at P169/kilo and tilapia at P130.

Garlic, both local and imported, and red onion are also in the SRP list.

For imported garlic, SRP is at P70/kilo while local costs P120. For imported red onion, SRP is at P95/kilo.

As for refined sugar, SRP is at P50, while raw sugar is priced P45/kilo.

It is the responsibility of the government to provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of basic commodities during periods of calamity, emergency, widespread illegal price manipulation and other similar situations.

Under the law, the DA is directed, whenever necessary, to issue SRPs for any or all basic commodities as well as to determine, recommend and enforce price ceilings.

The DA will continue to conduct regular monitoring of basic commodities in order to identify and investigate causes of market and price irregularities.

The DA said the Department of Trade and Industry has already filed cases against some SRP violators.