AS fish and vegetable prices rise because of the Holy Week, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Monday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to enforce stricter price monitoring and set suggested retail price (SRP) on basic commodities.
“Natutuwa po tayo na araw-araw ay may update ang DA sa kanilang website sa presyo ng karne, isda, at gulay. Pero napansin po natin na prevailing retail prices ang nakalagay. Mas mainam siguro kung maglagay din ng SRP para magkaroon ng batayan ang ating mga kababayan kung overpriced na ba o hindi ang binibili nilang mga paninda,” Lee said.
“While it is natural for the retail prices of vegetables and fish to go up during the Holy Week, dapat pa ring magpatupad nang mas mahigpit na pagbabantay ang DA at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin lalo na sa linggong ito,” he added.
Lee issued the call after the DA said it was expecting a 10 to 20 percent increase in the retail price of fish during the Holy Week even as the department assured there was still an ample supply of fish.
“Bantayan po sana ng DA at DTI ang mga magsasamantala, lalo na ngayong Mahal na Araw, na papatungan ang presyo ng kanilang mga paninda hanggang sa umabot na sa ‘di makatarungang presyo,” the Bicolano lawmaker said.
“If there is ample supply of fish, then the price increases should not be so significant even though it is the Holy Week. Huwag naman po nating pabigatin pa ang pasanin ng marami nating kababayan,” he added.
Based on March 22 monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of milkfish ranged from P150 and P220 per kilo; tilapia, between P120 to P160 per kilo; local round scad, from P180 to P300 per kilo, imported round scad, from P180 to P200 per kilo; and Indian mackerel, between P280 to P350 per kilo.
Moreover, the lawmaker also urged the DA to replicate its price monitoring on a provincial or regional level.
“Sa kasalukuyan, Metro Manila prices lang ang minomonitor ng DA. Sana ay gawin din ito ng provincial at regional offices para naman hindi lang mga nasa NCR ang makinabang sa price monitoring,” the solon said.
“Winner Tayo Lahat sa pagsasagawa ng price monitoring sa buong bansa at pagsigurong hindi overpriced ang mga bilihin. Bawat halagang matitipid ng ating mga kababayan ay magagamit sa iba pang pangangailangan; extra budget ito na makababawas sa pangamba, lalo na kung may magkasakit sa pamilya,” he added.
