DA chief: No more justification for rice price hike

The damage from tropical cyclones "Pedring" (Nesat) and "Quiel" (Nalgae) should no longer be an excuse for traders to hike prices of rice and other agricultural products, the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said that with several roads and bridges repaired, traders cannot claim higher transport costs as a reason for jacking up prices. "There is simply no reason for higher prices. After the damage caused by the two typhoons, we expect many key bridges and roads to be passable. We hope traders will not use damaged roads and bridges as an excuse to hike prices," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Alcala, who is in Malaysia to invite agricultural investments to the Philippines, said he is monitoring the extent of damage caused by Pedring and Quiel. He advised consumers to report to authorities stalls or stores selling rice and other agricultural products at higher prices. "Pag kayo nakakita ng nagtitinda na tinaas ang presyo huwag ninyo bilihan sapagka't mapagsamantalang negosyante yan," he said. Alcala also said his monitoring shows prices of like fish, poultry and meat are still stable. He said this price stability is likely to stay until the Christmas season. "Dont worry, almost all commodities are steady in terms of prices. Prices will remain stable until Christmas," he said. High vegetable prices Despite Alcala's assurances, prices of agricultural products, including rice, remain high in some markets in Metro Manila. In Marikina City, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported rice sold between P29 a kilo and up to P56 per kilo (Jasmine). A separate dzBB report said prices of rice allegedly went up by up to P30 per sack due to transport costs. On the other hand, prices of vegetables in Marikina markets remained high, including:

- Sitaw, P60 per kilo - Ampalaya, P50 per kilo - Onions, P64 per kilo - Tomatoes, P40-50 per kilo

Prices of some fish went up, including bangus from flood-hit Bulacan going from P75 a kilo to P110 per kilo. However, the prices of chicken sold at Marikina markets went down from P110 to P105 a kilo. Prices of pork also went down from P160 to P145 a kilo. Beef prices remained stable at P220 a kilo.— LBG, GMA News