The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified its crackdown on food retailers selling pork and onions above the government’s maximum suggested retail price (MSRP).
The DA issued show-cause orders to a pork vendor and several onion sellers at the Obrero Market in Manila. Separate notices were also served to two onion vendors at Mega Q Mart in Quezon City by a joint team from the DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Philippine National Police.
The vendors were ordered to explain why they are charging prices higher than the MSRP, a move aimed at stopping profiteering and protecting consumers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said more show-cause orders will be issued in the coming days, stressing that the government-set prices allow fair earnings for sellers while keeping basic goods affordable.
The DA has set the MSRP at P150 per kilo for red onions and P120 per kilo for yellow onions. For pork, the MSRP is P370 per kilo for liempo and P330 per kilo for pigue and kasim.
The agency said onion prices have eased from previous highs of up to P300 per kilo, now ranging from P150 to P240 per kilo, although some retailers are still selling above the cap.
The DA added that enforcement is not limited to retailers, as distributors are also being monitored to prevent profiteering and anti-competitive practices such as cartelization.
Vendors given show-cause orders have three days to submit their explanations, which will help authorities decide on further action.
As of Wednesday, December 17, DA monitoring showed prevailing market prices in the National Capital Region at P280 per kilo for local red onions, P200 per kilo for imported red onions, and P140 per kilo for imported white onions. Pork prices were at P355 per kilo for ham, P400 per kilo for belly, P250 per kilo for frozen kasim, and P300 per kilo for frozen liempo.
