DA monitoring spike of prices

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta said the regional bantay presyo team is now monitoring the spike of prices of recommended suggested retail prices for basic agricommodities in the regions and highly populated cities.

“The DA have set SRP for Metro Manila, but it doesn’t mean we will only have SRP in that area, we will be also monitoring urban centers such as Baguio. We have regional bantay presyo monitoring teams conducted by DA,” said Villacorta adding the agriculture agency is also providing measures to avoid increase of prices.

Villacorta reiterated Secretary Emmanuel Pinol’s declaration of SRPs following the speculations of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or Train Law by businessman and middleman with the increase of prices of basic and prime commodities.

On June 25, Pinol announced SRP for rice for regular milled rice at P39/kilo. The department order covers only Metro Manila markets.

The SRP scheme will possibly out to other regions in the coming days.

“The spike of price is actually 10 percent from previous week, onceP110 set this week next week P120,it is the responsibility of the regional office to recommend to central office toset SRP in Baguio once it will happen,” Villacorta added.

Aside from regular milled rice the DA has

also set seven SRPs for prime commodities such as milkfish at P150/kilo, galunggong atP140/ kilo and tilapia atP100/kilo.

Also covered in the order are suggested retail price of red onions and white onions have SRPs of P95/kilo and P75/kilo, imported garlic at P70/ kilo and local garlic at P120/kilo.

Benguet province and the Cordilleras are the main suppliers of the highland vegetables across the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque in a press conference last February in the city of Baguio manifested the effects of Train Law in the agriculture sector remain minimal.

“I think it will be minimal because in the first place, there will be no ad valorem tax on vegetables itself. So perhaps, it may affect some inputs, but it will be minimal. In fact, overall, the Department of Finance said that in terms of inflation, it’s about .7 percent,” added Roque.

Photo by Milo Brioso FOR MONITORING. A porter transports potatoes to traders at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post. Prices of highland vegetables will now be monitored and will be given suggested retail price according to the Department of Agriculture.