Due to the rising prices of basic commodities and the grave impact of the prevailing pandemic on people’s livelihoods, the Department of Agriculture (DA) was prompted to form the Bantay Presyo task force to ensure that prices are right.
The task force formed under the agency’s consumer affairs office, has a monitoring and enforcement team also tasked to go after abusive price freeze violators of agricultural commodities.
“Kasama po sila sa bantay presyo. Within the DA, mayron pa tayong adjudication team… in case mayroon pong mga discrepancy pagdating po sa mga presyo ng agricultural commodities sa mga palengke,” DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said.
The officials said other basic goods such as canned goods and noodles are under the monitoring of the Department of Trade and Industry.
“Hindi po kasama sa ating monitoring ang pagdating sa gulay – the likes of ‘yung mga broccoli, cauliflower… because hindi naman po nagke-cater sa lahat ng tao ‘yung mga ganyang choice of commodities,” she said.
Violators may face charges under the country’s Price Act.
“Pwede pong magkaroon ng confiscation ng permits at pwede rin po magkaroon ng fine from P1,000 to P1 million,” she said.
The task force continues to inspect markets, including 11 wet markets in Metro Manila, and trading posts nationwide.
“Sa ating mga regions naman po, ang ating monitoring team sa regional field office po. Usually, parang twice or thrice a week naman ang monitoring na nagaganap sa regions,” she said. (PTV, DA)/AG-rir
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