DA to Pursue Legal Action Against Those Behind Unwarranted Food Price Increases

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2026-01-10 16:08:12

MANILA – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the filing of cases against individuals nd groups responsible for what he described as “unjustified” price hikes in agricultural food commodities.

In a statement released Friday, Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying market surveillance and launching a tougher enforcement drive, particularly in major urban centers such as Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City, to help ensure fair and stable food prices.

“I want cases filed. Sometimes, you need to create a paper trail. It’s a deterrent,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that show-cause orders have already been issued. He added that explanations submitted by concerned parties will be reviewed to determine the appropriate legal actions.

Both agricultural traders and retailers will be required to justify sudden increases in the prices of basic commodities such as rice, vegetables, meat, and fish. Those who refuse to cooperate with the DA may face formal complaints and deeper investigations in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

The DA chief warned that parties submitting incomplete, misleading, or false information—especially regarding pricing and supply sources—could be charged for providing false statements.

“If they are not cooperating and the information they give is false or lacking, that becomes subject to further investigation,” Tiu Laurel said. “We are not talking about arrests, but calling them in to explain where their goods really come from. When someone lies during an investigation, that’s already a case. That’s where accountability comes in.”

Possible charges include profiteering and other violations under the Price Act, as well as perjury for false declarations made during official investigations.

PHP20-per-kilo rice expansion

Meanwhile, the DA is preparing for a major expansion of the PHP20-per-kilogram rice initiative under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program, with the next rollout scheduled in Lingayen next week.

“By strengthening government procurement, we reduce farmers’ dependence on middlemen and give them a more reliable market,” Tiu Laurel said during a separate briefing on Thursday.

The National Food Authority has so far secured 2.2 million 50-kilogram bags of freshly milled rice for the initial rollout, in addition to 700,000 bags of older stocks. The country’s rice buffer stock currently stands at 451,886 metric tons, or about 9.04 million bags—enough to cover nearly 12 days of national consumption.

After Pangasinan, the DA plans to expand the program to Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Mindoro, Palawan, Bohol, Zamboanga City, and Davao City before the end of January.

These areas were selected based on either high palay production levels or strong consumer demand.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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