Romualdez calls for stronger monitoring of produce prices
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is calling on the government to implement a stronger mechanism to monitor produce prices following reports of traders selling eggs at P9 to P12 per piece.
MANILA, Philippines — A stronger monitoring of produce prices is needed as some traders were reported to be selling above the real market data from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Tuesday.
He said this after some industry stakeholders raised concerns about food products such as large chicken eggs being sold at P9 to P12 per piece, when the DA’s Bantay Presyo data pegs the price at P8 to P9 per piece.
According to the House leader, a difference of a peso or two would go a long way.
“May price monitoring mechanisms ang ating mga ahensiya pero dapat siguruhin nating nakikita sa pamilihan ang nakasaad na presyo sa monitoring na ito. Sa ngayon kasi, mukhang hindi akma ang estimate sa price monitoring sa tunay na presyo sa mga pamilihan,” Romualdez said in a statement.
(Our agencies have price monitoring mechanisms, but we have to ensure that we can see the prices stated in these monitoring activities in our markets. Currently, it seems that the price estimates based on monitoring do not correspond to true prices at the markets.)
“Nakikita natin na sa wet markets, ang ganitong mga itlog ay nabibili sa P9–P11, at sa ilang supermarket, umaabot pa sa P12,” he explained. “Bakit may diperensya sa presyo, kahit piso lang?”
(We have seen at wet markets, large eggs are bought at P9–P11, and up to P12 in some supermarkets. Why is there even a peso difference?)
Romualdez said that he understands that DA is doing everything it can to monitor prices, but there might be a need to put extra mechanisms in place to ensure that consumers’ rights are protected.
“Every peso is important. We have to correct this so that we can rectify prices at the markets,” he added.
A press release from the DA, posted by the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday, showed that the department, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, is closely monitoring egg prices to ensure they do not rise to “unreasonable levels.”
According to Laurel, there are suggestions to implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on eggs, but “as with goods like rice and pork,” they would have to consult stakeholders first “so as not to shock the industry.”
The DA revealed during a Jan. 15 hearing of the House Quinta committee, which probed the rising prices of basic goods, that the department intended to place a P58 per kilogram MSRP on premium grains.
According to the DA, it intends to create a ripple effect, wherein the prices of well-milled rice and regular-milled rice do not differ much. This would, therefore, force sellers to lower the prices of cheaper variants.
READ: DA aims lower rice prices by setting maximum SRP for premium grains
On Monday, DA set the MSRP of imported rice at P45 per kilogram.
Lawmakers, however, have raised concerns about the MSRP. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said that the DA is placing a cap that is higher than the price of rice sold at the market during that time.
Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin called out the DA for seemingly pulling out the P58 per kilogram MSRP out of thin air.
READ: DA sets MSRP of imported rice at P45 starting March 31
Synchronized approach
Romualdez also noted that the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have their own monitoring systems, which could be strengthened if both agencies synchronize their activities.
“May monitoring ang DA. May monitoring ang DTI. Dapat nagkakaisa ang mga ahensya para makuha natin ang tunay na larawan ng presyo sa pamilihan. Ito ang magiging susi para sa isang maayos at matatag na ekonomiya,” he said.
(DA has its monitoring. The DTI has its own. We have to unite the initiatives of these agencies so that we can get the actual prices inside marketplaces. This is key for a strong economy.)
“Alam natin na hindi lang itlog ang apektado. Ang presyo ng karne at poultry ay patuloy na tumataas dahil sa mga isyung tulad ng African swine fever, kakulangan sa storage facilities, at init ng summer. Hindi ito maaaring balewalain,” he added.
(We know that not only eggs are affected; meat and poultry prices continue to rise due to issues like the African swine fever, shortage in storage facilities, and the summer heat. We cannot set these issues aside.)
In February, the DA said there may be an egg supply shortage from April to May as many local producers suffered losses due to oversupply and lower prices in 2024.
According to Romualdez, these issues must be addressed before the Holy Week, which is set from April 13 to April 20 this year.
“Hindi natin puwedeng palipasin pa ang Mahal na Araw bago natin solusyunan ang mga problemang ito. Kailangan agad nating gumawa ng hakbang para sa ating mga mamamayan,” he said.
(We cannot let the Holy Week pass by without solving these problems. We need to take steps for our people.)
“Tayo’y magtutulungan upang matiyak na abot-kaya ang bilihin ng bawat sambayanan,” he declared. “Hindi ito laban ng iisang ahensya o grupo—ito ay laban nating lahat para sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan.”
(Let us help each other to ensure that prices of goods are affordable for our people. This is not the fight of a single agency or a group — this is a fight for all of us, for a better future.)
