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.
Lee issued the call after the DA said it was expecting a 10 percent 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.
The lawmaker said: “While it is natural for the retail prices of vegetables and fish to go up during the Holy Week there still should be stricter monitoring by the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on prices of basic goods.
“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 the 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.
He said currently, only prices in Metro Manila are being monitored by the DA. “Sana ay gawin din ito ng provincial at regional offices para naman hindi lang mga nasa NCR ang makinabang sa price monitoring,” the lawmaker said.
He added that the consumers will benefit from the price monitoring nationwide, to make sure items are not overpriced.
“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.