USANA Ignites Your Willpower In #iWill Launch Active Nutrition Line now Available to Promote Over-All Wellness

Makati City, 01 August 2023 – USANA Philippines kicked off its highly anticipated #iWill campaign that aim to inspire and motivate guests to embrace their commitment to wellness.

The launch, held at the USANA office at the Enterprise Center in Makati City was an afternoon filled with exciting activities and insightful discussions designed to empower individuals to take control of their health and well-being through the #iWill campaign and Active Nutrition line.

Introducing the #iWill campaign in high spirits is basketball player Vince Tolentino and pocket billiards (pool) player Bing Amit. They were joined by USANA's General Manager Cherry Ampig and Senior Sales and Marketing Manager Joyce Ramallosa, who shared their insights on the #iWill campaign, the Active Nutrition line, and how one’s willpower can help achieve optimal wellness.

“We are excited to launch the #iWill campaign and inspire individuals to tap into their inner willpower," said Ampig. "With our Active Nutrition line, we are providing the needed support for people to make lasting changes in their lives and unlock their true potential."

USANA recognizes the challenges in kickstarting positive change and maintaining a healthy routine, knowing that achieving long term well-being requires commitment and the resilience to overcome obstacles and resist temptations. This understanding has inspired USANA to introduce the #iWill campaign, serving as a guiding force, encouraging individuals to tap into their inner determination and persevere through challenges. By highlighting the significance of commitment and the transformative power of willpower, USANA empowers participants to overcome barriers that may hinder their progress towards a healthier lifestyle.

USANA also launched the Active Nutrition line which provides individuals with a carefully curated, comprehensive range of products that support their lifestyles and overall well-being. The supplement line includes:

The fun took on an exciting turn when USANA invited the guests to a Live HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) session with Coach Jason Jolloso to help them take that first step in igniting their willpower.

In addition to the thrilling workout, guests had the opportunity to explore the Body Analytics Corner, where attendees learned to calculate their body analytics and gain insights into their muscle and fat ratio by simply using a weighing scale device, providing them with valuable information to guide their fitness journey. Those that participated brought home a special prize.

There was also the #iWill commitment wall which took center stage by encouraging guests to write down their commitments to love their bodies more, beginning their entries with the empowering hashtag #iWill.

To learn more about USANA and their product offerings, visit their website at www.usana.com or follow them on their official FB page USANA Philippines for more information.

About USANA
USANA is an American multi-level company that develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, foods, and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Belgium, Colombia, Indonesia, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy.

Shopee Resumes Full Operations and Nationwide Fulfillment for All Goods

MANILA, April 30, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announced today that it will resume full operations and fulfillment of all orders nationwide -- including non-essential goods like beauty products, fashion, and many more. Cash on Delivery will also be available for all items.

Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines, said: ​“We’re glad to announce that Shopee will be resuming full operations and nationwide fulfillment for all goods and services. Aside from essential goods, our Filipino users can now have access to non-essential goods from different categories like fashion, beauty, and many more. We are also working closely with our brands, sellers, and partners to ensure that we continue to provide our users with greater convenience and value during this period and beyond Covid-19.”

Shopee will also continue to serve its users with their essential needs with the recently launched 5.5 Shopee Mart Sale. Running until May 5, Shopee offers deals as low as ₱5 and a Free Shipping with P0 minimum spend on essential products including food, personal hygiene, health supplies, and many more.

In addition, Shopee will be offering discounts up to 90% off on fashion items with the Shopee Bazaar Sale.

Visit https://shopee.ph/5-5 for more information.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Southeast Asia. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.

Be a Smart Shopper! 5 Shop from Home Tips For Every Filipino

In the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak, we must stay healthy and safe. Shopping at home is the most convenient way to get your daily essential needs, and there’s no better way to get your shopping done from home than with Shopee! Here are some tips to make your #ShopeeAtHome experience easier and help you decide better:

1. Plan ahead and ready your list

Make a list and check it twice. This will give you an overview of what items you really need to buy and help you manage your budget. It will also ensure that you don't forget essential personal care items like antibacterial soaps and shampoos before hitting the checkout button. Take a look at Shopee’s collection and sale pages to see the variety of great deals that are available. Shopee’s collections also make it easier for you to find the items on your list, and get great deals to boot!

2. Choose healthy

A healthy lifestyle starts with smart choices when buying food. Make sure to fill your pantry with nutrient-packed meals and drinks. Shopee offers a variety of food products packed with essential vitamins and minerals. You can use its search filter function for easy access to its wide range of food and beverage items, health supplements, and more.

3. Order in bulk

Save more money and get additional discounts when you buy in bulk. Find shop vouchers and bundle deals that give you an extra discount when you purchase more items from the same shop. Items marked as Wholesale can also help you save--if you buy the specified number of items, you can get them at a discounted price.

4. Invest in your family's protection

During this Enhanced Community Quarantine, it may be difficult to find disinfectants and protective gear in local grocery stores. Luckily, Shopee provides a wide range of health products on their Flash Deals and branded collections including face masks, hand sanitizers, alcohol, and anti-bacterial cleaners. Not only is there a lot of variety to choose from, but you’ll also get great discounts.

5. Look for best deals and bargains

Don’t fret! Shopee offers the best deals on all your essential needs with 5.5 Shopee Mart Sale. Starting from April 22 - May 5, you can now #ShopeeFromHome and get deals as low as ₱5 and a Free Shipping with P0 minimum spend on your favorite essential goods. Score even better deals when you use discount vouchers, cashback vouchers, and Shopee coins. Even more vouchers await you when you shop using ShopeePay. In addition, top brands like P&G, Wyeth, Nestle, Unilever, Enfagrow, and Abbot will be giving discounts at up to 50% off.

Visit https://shopee.ph/5-5 for more information.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Southeast Asia. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.

Shopee Announces ₱200 million Seller Support Package, Aims to Help up to 80,000 Filipino SMEs

MANILA, April 23, 2020 - ​Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform of Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches the ₱200 million Seller Support Package to support up to 80,000 Filipino Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs), whose businesses have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The ₱200 million Seller Support Package aims to help Filipino SMEs and sellers navigate the current economic climate, during the time of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and beyond.

The Shopee Seller Support Package aims to support both local SMEs and sellers with an existing online presence as well as those looking to expand their businesses online, through the provision of education, funding, and subsidies. It serves to soften the economic decline faced by Filipino SMEs and sellers during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period, by empowering them with more sales and growth opportunities, reducing their operational costs and facilitating their long-term business sustainability.

The Shopee Seller Support Package aims to benefit sellers with the following initiatives:

1. Lowered Commission and Operational Costs:

• Sellers who register for the package will receive reduced commission and transaction fees.
• Sellers who sign up for the package can enjoy the Coin Cashback and Free Shipping programs free of charge for 1 month. In addition, sellers who are currently part of these programs will also enjoy reduced fees.
• To ease SMEs and sellers’ operational costs, Shopee will also provide subsidies up to ₱15,000 per seller.

2. Increased Sales and Marketing Support:

• SMEs and sellers who register for the package can receive sales and marketing support in the form of 20% off shop vouchers to boost their online visibility and sales.

3. Helping new sellers succeed online: Shopee will continue to offer training and support to help sellers start, succeed, and grow on Shopee. New SMEs and sellers looking to start their online businesses on Shopee can continue to enjoy all existing benefits, including zero registration fees and 0% commission fee for marketplace sellers; as well as educational support via Shopee University online courses.

In addition, Shopee will continue to monitor the situation closely and to adjust its seller policies where required, in order to help SMEs and sellers better adapt to the evolving situation.

Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines, said: ​“During these challenging times, it is important for us to find ways to help our sellers and SMEs maintain long-term business sustainability. The launch of the Shopee Seller Support Package is part of our larger commitment to support our local communities through this Covid-19 period. We will continue to work closely with our extended network of partners, sellers, and shoppers to adapt our business and initiatives where required, as we remain united in getting through this together as one big community.”

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Shopee Donates 3,000 Test Kits and 100,000 Masks as Part of Shopee Bayanihan’s Initiative to Support the Front Liners’ Fight Against COVID-19

PHILIPPINES, March 31, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues its efforts to help contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines with its latest initiative Shopee Bayanihan. Together with the Office of Senator Bong Go, Shopee donates 100,000 surgical masks and 3,000 FDA approved COVID-19 test kits to support public hospitals and front-liners in their battle against COVID-19. The 100,000 masks were distributed to over 40 hospitals across Luzon including public and private hospitals from Quezon City, Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Rizal, and Batangas.

Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines said, “It is important for us to tide through this fight against the COVID-19 outbreak as one community. Our medical front liners and hospitals in the Philippines are working around the clock to contain the outbreak and we applaud them for their hard work and dedication. We are committed to doing what we can to support these medical front liners, the government, and the wider community during this period.”

Senator Bong Go said, “We laud Shopee for their generous donation and for stepping up their social responsibility efforts to help fight COVID-19. Shopee, as an e-commerce platform, helps support our government’s efforts to promote social distancing by ensuring that consumers can get their goods safely and conveniently straight to their own homes. Both the government and the private sector must work together and do what we can to address and respond to the growing threats of COVID-19. Magbayanihan po tayo. Tulungan nating bumangon ang bawat Pilipino bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa. Together, we can heal as one.”

Gerard Ho, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines said, “I commend Shopee in their efforts to support the Filipino community during this Enhanced Community Quarantine period in the country. Their donation will help medical front liners battle the crisis caused by COVID-19. This is a great example of a private enterprise contributing to the community.

Shopee Bayanihan demonstrates its commitment to provide support to those most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Shopee will continue to work closely with the government and step up its efforts to support them to prevent, detect and manage COVID-19.

For more information, please visit: https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Shopee Launches Shopee Bayanihan, An Initiative Focused on Providing Support for Medical Front Liners and Filipinos in Need

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches Shopee Bayanihan, an initiative focused on providing support for medical front liners and Filipinos in need.

In a true bayanihan spirit, Shopee partners with various humanitarian organizations like Red Cross, Kaya Natin and World Vision to raise funds to support different communities most affected by COVID-19 outbreak. Among those in need are hospitals faced with limited medical equipment and low-income households who face difficulties in securing daily necessities. Under Shopee Bayanihan, users can make a direct donation to these organizations via Shopee from 26 March onwards. Additionally, Shopee donates 2,800 KFN4 respiratory masks to support the health workers in the Philippine Lung Center in their combat against the virus.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing of Shopee Philippines, said, “In the spirit of bayanihan, we need to come together and draw strength from one another as we tide through this COVID-19 outbreak as one community. We launched Shopee Bayanihan to provide Filipinos a platform to step forward and help those in need. The funds raised will channel much-needed resources to vulnerable individuals and families to help them cope with the situation. We urge everyone to stand together with us and help one another stay strong during this period.”

All Filipinos can make a donation to their partner organizations of choice in amounts of P50, P100, P500, and P1,000 via Shopee Bayanihan. Here’s how:

On March 31, users can tune in to Shopee Live to watch a special program on “Shopee Bayanihan Day”. During the program, popular local celebrities will put up a special performance to help raise funds under Shopee Bayanihan. Users can also find more information on what the partner organizations are doing to support the community.

All proceeds made through Shopee Bayanihan will go straight to their partner organizations. For 
more information, please visit: https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
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About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.
Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

RICE TARIFFICATION LAW LED TO RECORD-LOW RICE PRICES IN SEVEN YEARS - DTI CHIEF

Manila - During the press conference updating the public on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez lauded the “game-changing” measure for bringing down retail prices of regular milled rice and well-milled rice to a seven-year low since the start of its implementation last March 5, 2019.

“From the DTI perspective, we are always after the impact on the consumers. We’ve been watching closely and helping temper prices of rice. We are glad to report that with the Rice Tariffication Law, we really see a huge difference from the record-high average price of regular milled rice at Php41/kg and well-milled rice at Php49/kg in September 2018,” said Sec. Lopez.

Based on data by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average price of regular milled rice was recorded at Php36.32/kg while the average price of well-milled rice was at Php41.23/kg during the first three weeks of February. The retail price of regular milled rice was at the lowest since December 2013 when it stood at Php36.18/kg, while the retail price of well-milled rice was at the lowest since May 2016 when it hit Php41.19/kg.

Sec. Lopez even shared that during their price monitoring rounds in groceries and wet markets, he and his team saw well-milled rice prices ranging from Php36 to Php38 per kilo with some selling at Php34/kg when purchasing 10 kilos

The trade secretary expressed optimism that the Law would see the “best to come” in the coming years given the biggest Php10billion fund that will support farmers in improving their productivity and lowering their production cost; thus, increasing their income.

Among the provisions of the Rice Tariffication Law is the Php10-billion Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which provides programs to improve agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and profitability.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar explained that the funds will be used to help mechanize operations, distribute certified seeds, provide trainings, and assist in financing.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), during the first seven months of implementation until December 2018, the revenues from the imposed tariffs reached Php12.3 billion. Agriculture Secretary Dar reported that the additional Php2.3 billion will be used for crop diversification and insurance that will help farmers increase profits.

“Aside from the direct benefit to consumers and farmers, RTL was instrumental at curbing inflation from the record-high 6.7 percent in October 2018, which was outside the government’s target rate of 2.0-4.0 percent, to 0.8 percent in October 2019, the slowest pace in over three years,” explained Sec. Lopez.

Meanwhile, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary Mercedita Sombilla highlighted the impact of rice prices in the overall inflation, reporting that in October 2018, rice inflation was at 10.7 percent while rice inflation in October 2019 was posted at -9.7 percent. In January 2020, headline inflation was recorded at 2.9 percent, well within the government’s target, while rice inflation was posted at -6.5 percent.

“We can see that the benefits of the Rice Tariffication Law are not just felt by consumers, but also by farmers, producers, and the overall economy. Tunay ngang sa Rice Tariffication Law, ang bayan ang panalo,” said Sec. Lopez.

DTI, GOOGLE, TIE UP FOR MSME DIGITALIZATION

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) finally inked deal with Google Philippines in upgrading the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the power of digitalization, creating a strong online presence and training them on digital skills to grow their businesses globally.

Through Google’s MSME Caravan, the goal is to conduct training sessions among MSMEs nationwide so they can be well-informed of the digital landscape, latest consumer insights and tools such as Google My Business, a free online listing on Google maps and Search to help MSMEs connect with more consumers in the digital space.

Google will train MSMEs build their online presence, control their business information, and create a free website and posts.

The series of workshops have already started, training more than 2,780 MSMEs in over 20 cities across eight regions nationwide.

“DTI shares same vision of Google on enhancing the skills of our entrepreneurs to become digital-savvy. That’s why we want to thank Google for this program that lets MSMEs maximize Google My Business to manage their online presence in Google Search and Google Maps. We laud them for their program goal of trying to reach 500,000 businesses by 2020 from the current 125,000 businesses registered in Google My Business,” expressed Trade Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, speaking on behalf of Secretary Ramon Lopez during the launch of MSME Caravan at the Google Philippines Office, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig last February 26, 2020.

DTI and Google target to reach more throughout 2020 as empowering MSMEs plays a vital role in driving the economy forward.

“Filipino MSMEs have the drive, the passion and the dedication to succeed. Combine that with the new tools and opportunities of the internet, and there is no limit on what’s possible for them! We hope that the MSME Caravan will help bring on board more trainees, visit more communities, and give more business owners the digital skills they need,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.

SB Corporation, Cebu People’s Cooperative Strengthen Partnership

The Small Business Corporation (SB Corporation) expressed continued support to the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC) as its Credit Delivery Partner (CDP) for the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program. CPMPC reported a total P2.56 million loans released to 124 microenterprise beneficiaries in just three months (November 2019 to January 2020). SB Corporation through CPMPC aims to generate P2 million P3 loan portfolio per month for each of the cooperative’s 16 satellite offices.

Present during the update meeting are (seated L-R) SB Corporation South Luzon Group Head Ronald Inciong, Financing Sector Head Ma. Lourdes Baula, SB Corporation President and CEO Ma. Luna Cacanando, CPMPC CEO Macario Quevedo, CPMPC COO Brian Yap, SB Corporation MIS Department Manager Marc Quincy Talagtag and SB Corporation Corporate Support Sector Head Rowena Betia (Standing L-R) SB Corporation Information Technology Group Head Evelyn Felias, CPMPC Financial Officer Eric Abistado, Training Dept Manager Jacob Layan, Credit Dept Manager Melanie Baclayon, Manila Branch Operator Ulysses Mar Josef, and Executive Secretary Nelson Rabaja.

Under the P3 Program, a micro enterprise can borrow between P5,000 up to P200,000 depending on its business need and repayment capacity with no collateral requirement with an effective interest rate of not more than 2.5% per month (based on diminishing balance). The P3 Program serves as an alternative to the P30 billion “5-6” money lending industry that charges 20% interest rate to microenterprises.

As of January 2020 the P3 program has extended a total of P5.1 billion in loans to 124,374 micro enterprises and has partnered with 418 partner financial institutions nationwide.

National Food Fair: Eat, Shop and Learn

The DTI Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in partnership with the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices will conduct the 2020 National Food Fair on March 12-15 at SM Megatrade Halls 1-3, 5th level, Building B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Fair hours are from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Admission is free.

Billed as the Philippine Cuisine and Ingredients Show, the four-day retail and order-taking event will showcase over 280 food entrepreneurs from the regions featuring processed food, beverages, halal products, cooking ingredients, health and wellness products, as well as the best cuisines across the country.

Special settings and pavilions include the Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth focusing on cocoa, coffee, processed fruits and nuts, and coconut industries; fresh produce from the Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project (INREMP); and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

In addition to the KAPEtirya Coffee Pavilion, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) will showcase a halal kitchen in conjunction with the Halal Food Plaza, while the Philippine Island Bar will feature local wines. There will also be booths promoting farm tourism and culinary tour packages, as well as on-site cooking demonstrations by featured chefs in the Kusinang Filipino.

The Department of Trade and Industry is setting up a one-stop Negosyo Center to provide assistance with business requirements and start-up concerns for aspiring entrepreneurs. There will be representatives from various DTI bureaus and attached agencies such as the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), Bureau of Import Services (BIS), Export Management Bureau (EMB), One Town, One Product (OTOP), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil).

Other related government offices will also have a presence, including the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health (DOH), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) under the Department of Agriculture (DA).

To support the sustainability initiative, fair-goers are strongly encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bags. For more information, please contact DTI-BDTP at telephone numbers (02) 7751-3223 and (02) 7791- 3102, or email bdtp@dti.gov.ph. Follow DTI-BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to get the latest news and updates.

DA, DTI, DILG Enforce Suggested Retail Price on Agri Products

QUEZON CITY – The Departments of Trade (DTI), Agriculture (DA), Local Government (DILG), and the Quezon City Local Government conducted a joint price monitoring last 24 February at Mega Q Mart to enforce the Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) of ten agriculture products for all Metro Manila markets.

Letters of inquiry were issued to two market vendors of chicken for overpricing and one sugar vendor for the lack of price tags/signages. Vendors have 48 hours to answer these letters or else, they will be given penalties which can range from PHP5,000 to PHP1,000,000, according to the Price Act.

“The effectiveness of the SRP implementation is dependent first on good information campaign and the cooperation among DA, DTI and the DILG with the local government units concerned, since they are the ones who supervise to the market masters in the public markets. For the retailers to comply with the SRP, the market masters must check if the traders entering their markets as well as the retailers are overpricing,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

“In chicken for instance, if the retail price is PHP 130, the wholesale price from the trader should not be higher than PHP 110 to give the market vendors enough margins to sell at SRP of PHP 130,” he added.

DA Secretary Dar added that the price change from farmgate to retail should not be more than 60%.

Under the DA Administrative Circular 01 issued on 20 February 2020, all Metro Manila markets should follow the SRPs for selected food items, namely: pork (pigue/kasim) – PHP 190; chicken (whole, dressed) – PHP 130; sugar (raw, brown) – PHP 45; sugar (refined) – PHP 50; bangus (cage-cultured) – PHP 162; tilapia (pond-cultured) – PHP 120; galunggong (imported) – PHP 130; garlic (imported) – PHP 70; garlic (local) – PHP 120; and red onion (imported) – PHP 95.

“This is a call to all traders and retailers in all Metro Manila markets. We now have the suggested retail prices for [these] food commodities. The monitoring and surveillance are a multi-government department approach, to include the local government unit concerned. Please, let’s strictly observe the SRP,” said Secretary Dar.

Consumers can report violating retailers to DTI through the 1-DTI (1-384) hotline. Otherwise, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said they can also approach the police or the local action centers of their cities or municipalities.

Aside from the retail price, the three agencies are now looking into enforcing a suggested wholesale price to monitor the traders.