Vegetable prices up in NCR; DTI monitors sardines, sugar

Prices of vegetables from Baguio went up in markets in Metro Manila Wednesday, even as the Department of Trade and Industry started monitoring prices of sardines and sugar.

 

In Quezon City, vendors at the Balintawak Public Market blamed rainy weather in the Cordillera for the price increase, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

The report said the vegetables from Baguio whose prices rose included potatoes from P25 to P40 per kilo; carrots from P40 to P65 per kilo; and pechay from P20 to P30 per kilo.

 

On the other hand, prices of sardines (tamban) remained stable at P50 per kilo, the report said.

 

DTI to check sardines, sugar prices

 

Meanwhile, the DTI said it will start checking prices of sardines and sugar in the market, amid reports that prices of the two commodities went up.

 

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said they were not advised of any price increase, particularly for sardines.

 

"Kahit tayo walang price control. ‘Yan ang naging usapan with manufacturers. Kung magtataas ng presyo, pag-usapan with them para alam namin ano ang kadahilanan at kung saan nanggagaling ang increase kung nakita sa monitoring report. ‘Yan ang nakaraan, kami nakikipagpulong sa kanila at may pagkakataon na hinihingi naming huwag itaas ng ganoon o nabibigyan namin ng approval ‘pag may sapat na dahilan," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

For now, Maglaya said the DTI is not aware of any reason for makers of sardines to hike prices, especially with recent rollbacks in prices of fuel.

 

She said their monitoring showed at least one sardines maker raising the prices of its products by 50 centavos per can.

 

Another brand hiked its prices by 75 centavos per can but she said this was due to a change in the type of can used, from the regular to the easy-open one.

 

"At this point hindi dapat tumataas [ang presyo ng] sardinas lalo na nangyayari ang sabi ng BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources] na dumadami ang huli at bumababa ang presyo ng isda," she said.

 

Maglaya said those found raising prices can be charged with profiteering, "kung 'di makabigay ng maayos na paliwanag ang manufacturer or supplier."

 

Sugar prices

 

Maglaya also said they are monitoring prices of sugar, whose prices had zoomed up from P44 per kilo some weeks back to as high as P50 per kilo.

 

She said their monitoring showed vendors had attributed the price hikes to the lean months starting in July.

 

However, she also said the DTI does not expect prices of sugar to exceed P50 per kilo, saying this was the price level of sugar at this time last year.

 

"Binabantayan natin ito dahil P50, ‘yan ang nilagay nating SRP [suggested retail price] last year. So hindi naman nilalampasan ito pero binabantayan natin. Sabi ng SRA [Sugar Regulatory Administration] administrator, walang supply problem," she said. –KG, GMA News