The Department of Agriculture (DA) has tightened the monitoring of wet markets as demand for food rises ahead of Christmas, aiming to keep prices stable and protect consumers.
On Thursday, the DA led a joint price and supply inspection at the Muñoz Public Market in Quezon City with other government agencies, including the local government, the Department of Trade and Industry, Food Terminal Inc., and the Philippine National Police.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said price monitoring will be further intensified as Christmas Day approaches, stressing that the government will continue to enforce fair pricing, especially during the holidays.
During the inspection, authorities issued show-cause orders to 12 onion stalls for selling above the Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The DA has set onion prices at P150 per kilo for red onions and P120 per kilo for white onions, but some stalls were still selling them for as much as P200 per kilo.
Inspectors also cited 20 pork stalls for exceeding government-set MSRPs, which are P370 per kilo for liempo and P330 per kilo for kasim and pigue.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the DA will not hesitate to take action against vendors who overpriced goods. She added that continuous monitoring is crucial during the Christmas season to ensure enough supply, fair prices, and protection for consumers as demand increases.
