House launches inquiry on high prices of goods

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives launched Tuesday its inquiry on the prices of agricultural commodities such as pork and chicken as consumers decry high prices of goods in the market.

House agriculture and food panel chairperson Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga said his committee is tasked to assess current data on supply and demand of all agricultural goods and to find a solution to the predicament of both suppliers and consumers.

Several House resolutions have been filed seeking to look into the high prices of agricultural goods in the market.

In her resolution, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said one of the possible reasons behind the high prices of pork are anti-competitive practices such as “collusion among traders which could keep wholesale and retail pork prices high while keeping hog farmgate prices low.”

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the country is now under a state of calamity due to high prices of goods such as pork, chicken, vegetables, and fruit.

Dar cited the persistence of African swine fever (ASF) in farms, the typhoons that devastated crops, and the alleged price manipulation among traders and resellers as possible reasons behind the soaring prices of the goods.

President Rodrigo Dutere has ordered a 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken products in Metro Manila.

Under Executive Order No. 124, the price ceiling for a kilogram of kasim and pigue is at P270, P300 per kilogram for liempo, and P160 per kilogram for dressed chicken.

EDV