DA sets new SRP on agriculture products

MANILA, Philippines — A new suggested retail price (SRP) on basic commodities will be imposed in a bid to protect consumers from abnormal price increases while quarantine measures are being implemented.

The Department of Agriculture has issued an administrative circular changing the SRP of commodities, according to DA spokesman Noel Reyes.

“This is effective immediately. We will be posting this in markets to serve as basis for consumers in Metro Manila,” Reyes told a virtual press briefing yesterday.

The DA adjusted its list of SRP last month.

The imposition of SRP is in line with the Price Act, which aims to ensure the availability of basic commodities at reasonable prices without denying legitimate businesses a fair return on investment.

Under the law, prices of basic necessities shall automatically be frozen or placed under price control whenever an area is under a state of calamity.

Under the new list, imported special rice should be sold at P52 per kilo, premium at P43 and well-milled at P38.

Special local rice should be sold at P53 per kilo, premium at P45 and well-milled at P40. Local rice varieties are currently sold at P58, P49 and P44 per kilo, respectively.

Local round scad or galunggong should be sold at P140 per kilo instead of P200. Imported galunggong is included in an earlier SRP list at P180 per kilo.

Milkfish is priced at P169 per kilo and tilapia at P120. Bangus is currently sold at P220 per kilo and tilapia at P140.

For pork kasim and pork liempo, the SRP remains at P230 and P250 per kilo, respectively.

Medium-sized eggs should be sold at P6.50 per piece. The current price is P7 per piece.

The SRP per liter of cooking oil is P50. The current price is P70.

For dressed chicken, the SRP is P130 per kilo. The average price in some markets is P150 to P160 per kilo.

Imported onion and garlic are also in the SRP list at P100 per kilo.

The SRP for refined sugar is P50 per kilo while raw sugar should be sold for P45 per kilo.

The DA said it would continue to monitor the prices of basic commodities to determine price irregularities.