The Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Agriculture (DA) have intensified joint market inspections to keep rice and other essential goods fairly priced, signaling closer government oversight as authorities seek to contain food inflation and protect consumers’ purchasing power.
The latest inspection, conducted on August 4 at the New Las Piñas City Public Market, forms part of the administration’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) initiative, which aims to stabilize prices of essential commodities while ensuring compliance with government pricing policies.
The joint monitoring comes as regulators continue to track market conditions following the lifting of the P50-per-kilogram rice price cap in June, amid concerns that unjustified price increases could erode gains from easing inflation.
“In addition to DTI’s regular monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities, we are working closely with the DA to track market conditions following the lifting of the P50 rice price cap. Our objective is to guarantee that our markets adhere to the government’s guidelines for fair pricing,” DTI Assistant Secretary Regino Mallari said.
The activity also complements the DA’s recommendation to the National Price Coordinating Council in July to reimpose the P50-per-kilogram rice price cap for another 60 days during the lean harvest season. The inspections are intended to provide policymakers with real-time market data as they assess whether further interventions are needed to stabilize rice prices.
During the operation, DTI and DA personnel inspected the prices of rice, basic necessities and prime commodities, and other agricultural products across 18 market stalls. Officials also tested weighing scales to ensure consumers receive the correct quantity for the price they pay.
Beyond monitoring compliance, the initiative reflects the government’s broader effort to improve price transparency in public markets while discouraging profiteering and inaccurate weighing practices. With food prices remaining a key concern for Filipino households, sustained market surveillance is expected to remain a central tool in balancing consumer protection with stable market conditions.
