To ensure that consumers are protected from retailers abusing the COVID-19 situation by raising prices of basic commodities, the Department of Agriculture (DA) posted an expanded suggested retail price (SRP) list for rice and other agricultural items.
Currently at a price freeze, a kilogram of local rice is priced at P53 for special, P45 for premium, P40 for well-milled and P33 for regular.
Meanwhile, variants of imported rice per kilogram are priced at P51 for special, P42 for premium, P40 for well-milled and P39 for regular. Additionally, the SRP for National Food Authority (NFA) rice is P27.
Aside from rice, DA also listed the suggested retail prices per kilogram for local galunggong (P130) and pork liempo (P225). Medium chicken eggs are also to be sold at P6.50 per piece, while cooking oil has a designated SRP of P24 for 30 ml and P50 for one liter.
Other basic agri-fishery commodities and their SRP are as follows:
- Milkfish (cage-cultured) – P162
- Tilapia (pond-cultured, fresh-chilled) – P120
- Roundscad or galunggong (imported) – P130
- Pork (pigue/kasim) – P190
- Chicken (whole) – P130
- Sugar (refined) – P50
- Sugar (brown) – P45
- Red onion (fresh) – P95
- Garlic (fresh, imported) – P70
- Garlic (fresh, local) – P120
Along with this list, the DA also said, “We will apprehend erring retailers, unscrupulous traders and hoarders, and file appropriate charges against them for violating the Price Act or R.A. 7581.”
Among the approved measures by the Inter-Agency Task Force regarding agriculture and fisheries is the operation of Local Price Coordinating Councils with guidance from the Department of Interior and Local Government to supervise the implementation of price freezes and suggested retail prices on basic goods.
Currently, the nationwide price freeze on essential goods is set in place until May 15.
Header photo by Mehrad Vosoughi on Unsplash
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
