FOOD prices in wet markets will undergo strict monitoring this year, especially those in urban centers across the country, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Friday.
The effort is part of a “tougher push” in maintaining fair and stable prices, Tiu Laurel noted, warning traders and retailers that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will strictly enforce rules in monitoring price hikes of staples such as rice, vegetables, fish and meat. Failure to cooperate may lead to the filing of charges and further investigation by the DA and law enforcement agencies.
The Agriculture department had previously issued show-cause orders to violators, but it won’t stop there, Tiu Laurel said. “I want cases filed… It’s a deterrent.”
Retailers who submit incomplete or misleading reports on supply sources and pricing may be cited for providing false information, Tiu Laurel pointed out. “That becomes subject to further investigation.”
More serious charges — such as perjury — may be pursued if false statements were found during investigations, especially for statements made under oath. “When someone lies during an investigation, that’s already a case,” the agriculture chief said.
While the DA has limited enforcement powers, it is closely coordinating with the proper enforcement agencies in implementing the provisions against profiteering and other prohibited acts under the Price Act, Tiu Laurel said.
He added that a proposed legislation is being prepared in Congress to create a dedicated enforcement arm in the DA, similar to the Department of Trade and Industry’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau.
In the meantime, the DA said it will conduct price monitoring on major urban centers, including Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, where consumers are most affected by price increases.
The recent drop in rice and onion prices is proof that more stringent regulation is effective, Tiu Laurel said. “Prices have gone down — from P300 to P200 a kilo, and now even lower in some areas. Clearly, there is an effect when there is monitoring and pressure. We just have to keep at it to protect consumers and ensure fair trade.”
