Suggested retail price scheme for rice, other goods in the works
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is expecting to impose a suggested retail price (SRP) scheme for basic agricultural commodities including rice and livestock products.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters on Wednesday that the DA will meet with stakeholders to finalize the price matrix for the SRPs.
“I will have to meet with the stakeholders maybe on Friday,” he said, adding that he hopes to release an SRP table soon after.
Mr. Piñol noted that the DA will be focusing on selected commodities, especially for livestock products where prices are volatile.
The DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aired plans to impose SRPs on rice in April amid increasing prices due to the depletion of the low-cost rice inventory held by the National Food Authority.
Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan said that the DA is also hoping to tame volatility in some commodities which cannot be placed under an SRP regime, where alleged profiteering takes place at the level of processing.
“The processor can just slap on an increase in the price but the producers can’t hide it. But (producers) are the true stakeholders here.” —