MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will intensify monitoring of prices in wet markets, particularly in major urban centers, as part of a tougher push to ensure fair and stable food costs. He warned retailers that unjustified price increases will not be tolerated.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will strictly enforce rules requiring traders and retailers to explain sharp increases in basic agricultural products, including rice, vegetables, fish, and meat. Those who fail to cooperate may face formal complaints and further investigation in coordination with other enforcement agencies.

“We have already issued show-cause orders. I want the summaries of their explanations submitted to me so we can study what cases to file,” he said. “I want cases filed. Sometimes, you need to create a paper trail. It’s a deterrent.”

The agriculture chief added that retailers who submit incomplete or misleading reports on pricing and sources of supply could be cited for providing false information. While the DA has limited enforcement authority, he stressed the importance of close coordination with appropriate agencies to implement rules against profiteering and other prohibited acts under the Price Act.

“If they are not cooperating and the information they give is false or lacking, that becomes subject to further investigation,” Tiu Laurel said. “The mere fact that the police are asking questions already makes a difference. We are not talking about arrests, but calling them in to explain where their goods really come from.”

He also warned that false statements during investigations could lead to more serious charges, such as perjury, for statements made under oath. “When someone lies during an investigation, that’s already a case. That’s where accountability comes in,” he said.

Acknowledging gaps in the current legal framework, Tiu Laurel renewed his call for stronger enforcement powers for the DA, noting that legislation is being prepared in Congress to create a dedicated enforcement arm similar to the DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau.

In the meantime, intensified monitoring will focus on major urban centers such as Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, where price spikes have the greatest impact on consumers.

Tiu Laurel pointed to the recent decline in onion and rice prices as proof that stricter oversight works. “Prices have gone down—from P300 to P200 a kilo, and now even lower in some areas. Clearly, there is an effect when there is monitoring and pressure,” he said. “We just have to keep at it to protect consumers and ensure fair trade.”