When prices of basic necessities and prime commodities concern the public, government agencies shall intervene through Republic Act (RA) No. 7581 to ensure the availability of products while protecting both consumers and producers.

This was the center of discussion on a briefing held today, February 19, and will run until Thursday, on the Price Act and its implementing rules and regulations as amended.

Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA RFO 02) Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo said the event as an important avenue to know where the agency stands on situations like states of disaster, war, of emergency, rebellion and privilege of the writ of habeas corpus suspended.

“We are here to converge with other line agencies whom we have been working with through the years in protecting our consumers from abusive traders or businessmen,” he said.

“This law has created Bantay Presyo Technical Committee (BPTC) who will help stabilize the prices and supply of Agricultural Commodities,” Edillo stressed, adding that “this course of action is to ensure that we can get away of abusive businessmen who control the prices of our products.”

Agricultural commodities that are part of the Bantay presyo are divided into two (2) which are basic necessities that include: rice, corn, root crops, fresh, dried fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh eggs, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, sugar and cooking oil.

While, prime commodities include: dried pork, dried beef, and poultry meat, fresh dairy products not falling under basic necessities. onions and garlic, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, poultry, livestock, and fishery feeds and veterinary products.

DA Legal Service Atty. Reynold Anthony Marc S. Rodriguez and the National Food Authority (NFA) Legal Department Atty. Joyce Anne V. Mascardo served as resource speakers.

The briefing was initiated by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA RFO 02.

It was attended by various national and local officials and DA RFO 02 staffs who are involved in price monitoring and other related concerns.