House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is calling for stricter oversight on the prices of basic goods, especially eggs, amid reports that some sellers are overpricing beyond what’s indicated by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Romualdez raised concerns after industry stakeholders flagged that large chicken eggs were being sold for as much as P12 each—despite DA’s own monitoring data placing prices between P8 to P9.
“May price monitoring mechanisms ang ating mga ahensiya pero dapat siguruhin nating nakikita sa pamilihan ang nakasaad na presyo sa monitoring na ito,” the Speaker emphasized. “Sa ngayon kasi, mukhang hindi akma ang estimate sa price monitoring sa tunay na presyo sa mga pamilihan.”
He noted that even a small discrepancy in price matters to consumers. “Bakit may diperensya sa presyo, kahit piso lang?” he asked. “Every peso is important. We have to correct this so that we can rectify prices at the markets.”
Romualdez acknowledged the DA’s efforts but suggested the need for additional measures to protect consumer welfare. He also pushed for closer coordination between the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“May monitoring ang DA. May monitoring ang DTI. Dapat nagkakaisa ang mga ahensya para makuha natin ang tunay na larawan ng presyo sa pamilihan,” he said. “Ito ang magiging susi para sa isang maayos at matatag na ekonomiya.”
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, meanwhile, said the DA is monitoring egg prices to ensure they don’t reach “unreasonable levels.” While there are proposals to implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for eggs, Laurel explained that consultations with stakeholders are necessary to avoid disrupting the market.
Earlier, the DA proposed an MSRP of P58 per kilo for premium rice grains and P45 per kilo for imported rice—moves that drew criticism from some lawmakers who questioned their basis.
Romualdez also warned of potential egg supply shortages between April and May due to earlier losses suffered by local producers. With Holy Week approaching in mid-April, he stressed the urgency of addressing the issue.
“Hindi natin puwedeng palipasin pa ang Mahal na Araw bago natin solusyunan ang mga problemang ito,” he said. “Tayo’y magtutulungan upang matiyak na abot-kaya ang bilihin ng bawat sambayanan.”
