Next DA chief prepares to address Mindanao price hike

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Incoming Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol is studying ways to reduce the price of commodities in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan, which spike up due to the closure of the Sabah border by the Malaysian government.

Piñol’s aides were in Tawi-Tawi last week to gather information needed for the drafting of measures that would cushion the effects of the border closure.

“I would like to look into this, especially in Tawi-Tawi where prices of commodities spike up by 100 percent,” Piñol said.

The hike in the prices of rice, sugar and oil in the three Mindanao provinces caught Piñol’s attention after president-elect and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered him to ensure the availability and affordability of commodities.

The office of the Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has been ordered to monitor prices of commodities weekly.

The regional government has been coordinating with the National Food Authority to ensure the availability and affordability of rice.

Residents and traders from Tawi-Tawi source their prime commodities from Sabah due to its proximity and lower cost of procurement.