Government rejects request for price increase of
some food manufacturers
Malacanang said on Sunday that the government
has rejected the request of some manufacturers to increase their respective
suggested retail prices (SRP).
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Hermino Coloma, Jr., said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
has declined the request of some manufacturers’ petition for price increase.
“Tinanggihan (ng DTI) ang hiling ng mga
taga-gawa at nagbebenta ng karneng de lata o canned meat, bottled water, at
sabong panligo na itaas ang kani-kanilang SRP sa dahilan ng kawalan ng
karampatang katuwiran o basehan sa pagtataas. Nananatiling matatag ang mga
presyo ng mga nasabing produkto sa merkado,” Coloma said in a press briefing
over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
Only manufactured goods has suggested retail
prices.
The Communications Secretary also assured the
public that there will be no price hike in the prices of flours.
“Nangako ang mga panadero na wala ring magiging
pagtaas sa presyo ng tinapay tulad ng Pinoy Pandesal at Pinoy Tasty,” Coloma
told reporters.
He said the government continues to monitor the
prices of other agriculture products, which according to DTI will retain its
current prices this week. This covers the prices of eggs, sugar, poultry, pork,
and even NFA rice.
On the other hand, prices of processed milk are
expected go up as the prices of skimmed milk and whole powdered milk in the
world market increased.
“Ngunit ang pagtaas na ito ay nilimitahan lamang
sa pagitan ng 40 sentimos hanggang P4.30 sa kabila ng hiling ng mga gumagawa ng
mga naturang produkto na itaas ang suggested retail price (SRP),” said Coloma.
Among the inter-government agencies that monitor
the prices are the DTI, Department of Agriculture, Philippine National Police,
National Bureau of Investigation, and the Presidential Assistant on Food
Security and Agriculture Modernization.
“Nananawagan at hinihimok po natin ang ating mga
mamamayan na isuplong at iulat sa DTI at sa ating mga law enforcement agencies
ang sinumang magtangkang magpataw ng labis na presyo o nakikilahok sa mga
gawaing pang-aabuso sa merkado (at) pang-iipit ng supply ng mga produkto upang
kagyat na mahuli at masampahan ng kaukulang kaso,” Coloma said. PND (ag)
Government confiscates 4,000 metric tons of NFA
rice from private trading company
The government’s effort in battling overpricing,
manipulation and cartel-like activities has led to the confiscation of an
estimated 4,000 metric tons of rice, a Palace official said on Sunday.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said the Philippine National Police – Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has seized this much from three
out of 12 warehouses they investigated.
“Tatlong bodega ang natagpuang may paglabag sa
batas dahil hindi makapagpakita ng dokumento ang mga tinuring na rice traders
at ang mga ito ay ipinadlock (padlock) na ng CIDG,” said Coloma in a press
briefing over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ayon sa ulat ni NFA (National Food Authority)
Administrator Arthur Juan, mula lamang sa tatlong bodega na siniyasat, may
natagpuang 80,076 na bags ng bigas na kung tig-50 kilo ang laman, may kabuuang
humigit-kumulang 4,000 metrikong toneladang bigas,” Coloma added.
In a similar development, Coloma said
Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agriculture Modernization
Secretary Francis Pangilinan reported that the Malolos Prosecutor’s Office has
filed a case against a rice trading company.
The company was found violating Presidential
Decree No. 4, for diversion of price and facing price manipulation charges
under the Price Act, where they can face five to 15 years imprisonment.
Coloma also said NFA Administrator Juan reported
that NFA-Bulacan Provincial Manager and NFA-Region III Director were both
tasked to explain how NFA rice found its way to the hands of a private company
when it should only be traded by cooperatives.
“Pinapatunayan lang nitong pagkilos ng ating
pamahalaan na totoo ang hinala na meron talagang mga nagsasamantala at
nagsasagawa ng mga paglabag sa batas na hoarding at pag-manipula ng presyo.
Kaya ngayong nabulabog na sila, at nahulihan na ng konkretong ebidensya ang
ilan sa kanila, at nasampahan na rin ng ng kaso ng ating pamahalaan, inaasahan
nating luluwag na ang supply sa merkado,” said Coloma. PND (ag)
