Pardo market among top 5 markets in RP

The Pardo Public Market received P500,000 worth of prizes for being one of the five top national winners of this year's "Search for Huwarang Palengke" initiated by the Department of Agriculture.

DA-7 chief of the agribusiness and marketing assistance division Geraldine Franza revealed that the Talamban Public Market was also a finalist in the search that only covers public markets in urban centers.

The criteria of the contest were: Observance to consumer protection laws, 25 percent; prices of goods, 25 percent; structure, hygiene and sanitation, 50 percent.

Franza said the DA-7 is monitoring the prices of wage goods that specifically cover four products namely rice, meat, vegetables and sugar daily.

Franza was one of the guests of the recent Kapihan sa PIA that tackled the "Pamilihan ng Lalawigan" Contest of the Department of Trade and Industry with the basic objective on adherence to fair trade laws by public markets nationwide.

DTI-Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro said the contest aims to protect consumers so they can get the best value for every peso they spend in the public market.

National Meat Inspection Service regional director Romeo Capa also said prices of meat in Cebu are basically lower compared to Manila. Beef in Manila costs P238 per kilo but only P171 per kilo in Cebu, pork in Manila is P142 per kilo compared to P141 per kilo here, dressed chicken is also P104 per kilo in Manila compared to only P101 per kilo here.

Since the monitoring of hot meat is primarily devolved to the local government units, Capa said they are urging the LGUs to form the "Task Force Bantay Karne" to monitor the entry of hot meat in public markets in their areas.

National Food Authority chief of the licensing division Ernesto Lariosa said the most common complaint reaching their office is the mislabeling of rice where a certain quality of rice is sparsely mixed with an inferior quality.

Lariosa said sanctions involve a fine of P1,000 to P4,000 to cancellation of license depending on the gravity of the offense. For this year, over 100 retailers and wholesalers have been found guilty of violations ranging from expired goods or operating without a license, overpricing and mislabeling. - Jasmin R. Uy/BRP