SUGGESTED retail price (SRP) can be seen to standardize the prices of highland vegetables in the Cordillera region.

Joan Bacbac, regional coordinator of the High Value Crop Development Program of the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera, said imposing SRP will determine how much the cost production of farmers is.

“We need SRP para hindi masyadong mataas ang charge ng mga traders kasi kung sa farmer’s gate price ka lang, hindi naman itataas ng mga farmers yan. Establishe lang natin kung magkano ang cost of production. From there pwede na silang magsabi kung ano ang price. Usually traders ang nagre-revise ng cost kasi walang SRP so sila lang naman ang may increase income at hindi ang mga farmers ang makikinabang,” she added.

Bacbac said the matter is still up for discussion and everyone has to be consulted.

Three months ago, a consultation was held about retail pricing for vegetables in Manila but only onions and garlic where tackled and Bacbac said they are hoping the main office will call them and will discuss the SRP for highland vegetables.

Meanwhile, according to Nora Ganase, President of the League of Associations at La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area said they don’t agree with the retail pricing and insist that their goods are perishable and must be disposed immediately.

“Ang tinda namin ay perishable at iba-iba ang klase ng mga harvest ng farmers, may 1st class, 2nd class, eh paano mo bibigyan ng prices yun? Eh di kung magkakaparehas ang prices pangit yung tinda mo edi hindi mabebenta yun, at saka depende rin sa demand kasi kung konti ang dumating at marami ang bibili maski na mataas pwede mong mabenta, ang problema naman pagmarami ang dumating marami ang namimili talagang ibabargain mo na kesa naman malusaw ang gulay because our vegetables are perishable hindi gaya ng dry goods na pwede mong ma-stock ng ilang araw,” (Ganase said. Fionna Mel Felicitas/MMSU intern)