MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified its monitoring of wet markets to keep food prices in check as rising Christmas demand puts pressure on consumers.

The DA on Thursday led a joint price and supply inspection at the Muñoz Public Market, ahead of the holiday rush, with Assistant Secretary Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra spearheading the activity alongside the Quezon City government, Food Terminal Inc., the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine National Police.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will further ramp up price monitoring as Christmas Day approaches to ensure retailers comply with price regulations.

“There will be no letup in our campaign for fair food prices — even, and especially, during the holidays,” Laurel said.

During the inspection, authorities issued show-cause orders to 12 onion stalls found selling above the Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The DA has set the MSRP at P150 per kilo for red onions and P120 per kilo for white onions, but prices in several stalls reached as high as P200 per kilo, although these were lower than levels recorded in recent days.

Inspectors also cited 20 pork stalls for selling above the government-set MSRPs of P370 per kilo for liempo and P330 per kilo for kasim and pigue.

Guevarra said sustained market monitoring is critical during the Christmas season, when demand for basic food commodities increases.

“Hindi tayo magdadalawang-isip na magpatupad ng kaukulang aksyon laban sa mga nagbebenta na lumalabag sa itinakdang MSRP. The show-cause orders give them the opportunity to explain, but at the same time, this sends a clear message that overpricing will not be tolerated,” she said.

She added that monitoring will remain continuous and be further intensified to stabilize prices, ensure adequate food supply, and strictly enforce price regulations.

“Mahalaga ang tuloy-tuloy na price and supply monitoring lalo na ngayong papalapit ang Pasko. This ensures that sapat ang suplay, patas ang presyo, at hindi naaabuso ang ating mga mamimili sa panahong mas mataas ang demand,” Guevarra said.