The Department of Agriculture (DA) has convinced some local government units (LGUs) to transport their agricultural products directly to Metro Manila markets, its chief said Tuesday

In a virtual briefing, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said some provinces in the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) have delivered their initial shipments of agricultural products after collaborating with the national government and farmers’ cooperatives and organizations.

“We hope to sustain these initiatives in partnership with hog and poultry raisers, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations to stabilize food supply and prices in Metro Manila,” Dar said.

On Monday, some 700 kg. of assorted vegetables and two metric tons (MT) of chicken meat from Calabarzon were downloaded at the Agricultural Training Institute in Quezon City.

He said under the “One DA Holistic Approach”, the move is part of the food security strategies aimed at bringing down the prices of basic food items.

In the coming days, more shipments of vegetables and poultry products will arrive in Metro Manila, DA 4-A (Calabarzon) OIC Director Vilma Dimaculangan said.

The towns of Taytay and Coron in Palawan and the province of Marinduque have also shipped initial deliveries of hogs as part of the holistic efforts.

Aside from vegetables, 612 hogs were delivered to Pasay and Alabang for slaughter and trade through the initiative of DA 4-B (Mimaropa) Director Antonio Gerundio.

On Tuesday evening, 80 metric tons of pinakbet vegetables arrived at the Juliana market in Balintawak through DA 3 (Central Luzon) Director Crispulo Bautista’s efforts.

Dar earlier said he has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the implementation of a price freeze on food items.

In particular, he sought a price ceiling for kasim (pork shoulder) and pigue (pork leg) at PHP270/kg.; liempo (pork belly) at PHP300/kg.; and chicken at PHP160/kg.

He said investigations and appropriate charges for traders and sellers colluding to float the idea of food supply shortage to jack up the prices are underway.

“All evidence points against them, as (the) production cost of hogs ranges only from PHP105 to PHP150 per kilo, and the resulting farmgate price of up to PHP200 per kilo, while market retail prices go as high PHP400 per kilo. That’s a huge PHP200 profit margin,” Dar said.

He noted that hog raisers in Batangas, where farmgate prices range from PHP180 to PHP200 per kg., said a PHP70 to PHP80 margin between farmgate and market prices is acceptable.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and other affiliated agencies, the DA has created a sub-task group on economic intelligence operating through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Food Security.

The Philippine Competition Commission also said penalties could reach as high as PHP100 million for traders and sellers found guilty of price manipulation. (PNA)