THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao Region intensified its price monitoring efforts after receiving reports on price freeze violations.
DA-Davao information officer Noel Provido said the agency is now conducting price monitoring daily. Monitoring was initially conducted weekly.
They have also tapped more personnel to cover public markets in Bunawan, Calinan, Tibungco, Sasa, Buhangin, Matina Crossing, Toril, Matina Aplaya, Panacan, and Mintal in addition to Bankerohan and Agdao public markets that they usually monitor.
"Daghan kaayo og niabot nga mga complaints sa amoa sa social media and personally. And even kami we feel nga taas gyud kaayo ang presyo. So ingon ana na lang gyud para at least aware ang mga tao and ang mga vendors kay naay nagabantay (We received many complaints through our social media and personally. So we decided to conduct the price monitoring daily so the people and the vendors will be cautious)," he said.
He added they coordinated with market masters in each public market to disseminate the suggested retail prices of the commodities, especially that price freeze is currently being implemented.
"We also educate the vendors nga kung mag palabi mo og pataas diha, you could be sanctioned or face some penalties (We educate the vendors that they could face sanctions when they violate the price freeze)," he said.
Provido said the agency cannot yet apprehend since they do not have the police power, but the public can follow protocol in reporting abusive vendors.
"Magbuhat sila og written statement tapos ipadala nila sa DA. Pwede sila mag attach og receipt, or price tag nga mga photo, i-send nila sa DA kay kami ang muforward ana sa among adjudication board sa central office (They can send us a written complaint with receipts or photos of unreasonable price tags and we will forward it to our adjudication board in the central office)," he said.
He added that apart from the prices, they also check other possible violations such as misleading labels and absence of price tags.
He said the daily monitoring will also allow the agency to assess the factors that might affect movement in the prices of commodities, especially that vendors are forced to incur additional cost in transporting their products as the city implements enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
"Naa man gyud nay gamayng musaka because for now, ang mga vendors naga pakyaw sila sa Bangkerohan. Kung nagagamit lang sila og jeep sa una, wala may public transportation so mugamit silag taxi so naa gyuy mga added cost because kulang ang public transportation pero dapat dili mu-times two or five. Mutaas gyud ang presyo (Vendors have now hired taxis to transport their product since jeepneys were banned. That is an added cost to their part but they should not raise their prices five times higher than the SRP)," he said.
He added they will also check the prices set by suppliers of the goods which might have caused the increased price in the market.
"Among tan-awon kinsa ang trader. Magconduct og surveillance kay basi kato pud ang dapat isanction (We will also check the price of the traders to ensure that they also do not violate the price freeze)," he said.
Provido also urged the public to refer to the SRPs of the commodities on their Facebook page Agri Info Davao.