MMDA to NCR mayors: Monitor SRP in markets

PRICE CHECK. Trade Assistant Secretary Ann Claire Cabochan (left); San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora (center) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Romando Artes (right) check onions at a vegetable stall inside the Agora Market in San Juan City on Tuesday (Feb. 22, 2023). The inspection is to ensure that vendors comply with the suggested retail price of basic goods such as red onions, which is at PHP125 per kilo. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday asked mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help monitor the prices of basic commodities to help ensure compliance with the suggested retail prices (SRP) in markets within their jurisdiction.

In an inspection at the Agora Public Market in San Juan City, MMDA acting chair Romando Artes said these price monitoring activities include checking the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities as well as the weighing scales of vendors.

“We will coordinate with the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to conduct monitoring of prices in various wet markets in the metropolis,” Artes said.

The MMC is mainly composed of the 17 mayors in NCR and is led by the MMDA.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said there are regular price monitoring activities in his city through the Local Price Coordinating Council.

“I want to make sure that our constituents are not being sold overpriced commodities,” Zamora said.

During the inspection, two notices of violation were issued against a few retailers at the Agora Public Market who failed to comply with the SRP.

The latest price monitoring showed the SRP of imported medium and large red onions at PHP125 per kilogram.

Artes and Zamora were joined in the inspection by DTI Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection Group Ann Claire Cabochan.