The Department of Agriculture (DA) visited Divisoria on January 23 to examine how vegetables and other farm products move from suppliers to consumers, and how costs along the way affect retail prices. The market check is part of intensified monitoring ordered by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. to ensure stable supply and prevent unjustified price increases.
DA officials spoke directly with wholesalers, retailers, and market facilitators to track where costs are added. Traders explained that produce from provinces such as Nueva Ecija is unloaded in designated areas, sold mainly through pre-arranged buyers, and paid via checks or digital transfers. Prices rise as operating costs are passed on, including market space fees, annual hawkers’ fees, and porterage. For example, a 10-kilo bag of ampalaya delivered at about P850 can reach around P1,000 when sold to retailers.
The visit showed that price changes are often driven by basic trading expenses rather than speculation. The DA said understanding these daily market realities will help policymakers refine distribution systems, protect consumers from unreasonable price hikes, and improve efficiency in urban food markets.
