No plans yet to regulate sale of ornamental plants —DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has no plans yet to regulate the sale of ornamental plants amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary William Dar said Monday.

“Halos lahat po ng Pilipino gusto may tanim sa bahay or ornamental plants,” Dar said at the Laging Handa briefing. “Pero wala pa kaming balak na mag-regulate niyan.”

Dar appealed to sellers to keep prices of ornamental plants affordable.

“Dapat naman itong panahon ng pandemya ay huwag magsasamantala yung mga nagtitinda ng mga ornamental plants na iyan,” he said.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), an attached agency of the DA, earlier proposed guidelines to regulate the ornamental plant industry to help small business owners as well as to ensure quality for consumers.

BPI agriculturist Ernie Lito Bollosa said the regulation of prices may be done in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry. —KBK, GMA News