DA sets SRP on agri, fish commodities

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to protect the consuming public from abnormal price increases in the market, the Department of Agriculture will start imposing a suggested retail price (SRP) scheme on selected commodities.

In an administrative circular that will become effective on Feb. 24, Agriculture Secretary William Dar has set the SRP for basic agricultural and fishery commodities in Metro Manila.

“The DA is joining forces with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government and respective LGUs in Metro Manila to strictly monitor the prices in public markets on a regular basis and impose sanctions on erring retailers,” Dar said.

Under the approved SRP, pork pigue and kasim should have a price of P190 per kilo. Based on the latest market monitoring, these are priced from P193 to as high as P220 per kilo in some markets.

For fully dressed chicken, the SRP is P130 per kilo versus the current level of P152 per kilo.

For fish commodities, milkfish or bangus will now be priced P162 per kilo, tilapia at P120 and roundscad or galunggong at P130. Currently, bangus can be bought at P174 per kilo, tilapia at P140 and galunggong at P180.

The DA also included garlic, both local and imported, and red onion in the SRP list.

For imported garlic, SRP is at P70 per kilo while local will cost P120, significantly lower from the current P164 and P343 per kilo, respectively.

For imported red onion, SRP will be P95 per kilo from the prevailing P107.

As for refined sugar, SRP is at P50 while raw sugar will be priced P45 per kilo.

“We will conduct regular monitoring of these agri-fishery commodities to protect consumers against hoarding and profiteering of unscrupulous traders and cartels who manipulate for their advantage the supply, distribution, marketing and prices of basic agri-fishery goods,” Dar said.

Under the Price Act, the government shall ensure the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times, without denying legitimate businesses a fair return on investment.

It is also 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.