DA IMPLEMENTS PRICE FREEZE ON AGRI-PRODUCTS
City of San Fernando, Pampanga – In coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Interior and Local Government Unit (DILG), the Department of Agriculture spearheaded by Secretary William Dar will control and implement the prices of basic agricultural and fishery commodities in the provinces of Luzon.
Recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared the island of Luzon under the state of calamity after the onslaught impact of the various typhoons namely Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses.
“The President’s declaration of a State of Calamity is a big welcome sa atin sa agrikultura, kasi mas may ngipin na tayo sa pagmomonitor ng prices. This means the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) has to be sustained. Kung ano ang presyo bago nagbagyo, iyon din ang presyo na ipapatupad namin,” Agriculture Secretary Dar stated.
Price Freeze is a condition in which the price of the agricultural products are set at the average price by the authorized government agency during a disaster and emergency.
“The price freeze on basic agricultural and fishery products forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to ensure availability of basic commodities at reasonable prices, particularly in areas severely affected by the recent typhoons,” Secretary Dar reiterated.
Subsequently, Secretary Dar warned the traders who will violate the Price Act and manipulate the supply of the said commodities shall be charged with fines ranging from Php 5,000 to Php 2-million.
With this, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 assured the public that the suggested retail price will be followed in the different wet markets of Central Luzon.
According to the DA-DRRM Operations Center, the total damage and losses incurred due to typhoon ULYSSES has increased to Php 3.84-billion affecting 104,733 farmers & fisherfolk and 101,904 hectares of agricultural areas with a volume of production loss at 160,873 metric tons.###
Writer: Rica Geda Salas
Photo Editor: John Carlo Cayanan