DTI-Lanao Norte: Consumers empowered, enterprises enabled

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The neighboring City Government of Iligan in Lanao del Norte province is actively promoting market linkages, through the “Kadiwa Weekend Market Days,” being held at its Tambo, Pala-o and Central Markets, along with the active participation of the City Agriculture Office (CAO) and the local office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which both play crucial roles in monitoring prices through the use of the Department of Agriculture’s “Bantay Presyo Monitoring System.”

Ritchel Joy Gomera, CAO personnel, confirmed to the Daily Tribune that daily reports are submitted to the DA and shared with the DTI and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

During the first half of FY 2025 alone, Kadiwa events supported 12 farmer-producers, generating P973,122.85 in sales, and facilitating the transport of 32.876 metric tons of agri-fishery products.

Free hauling services are also provided every Friday from farming areas in barangays Mainit, Ubalo, Laya and Upper Tominobo.

CAO data reveals fluctuating prices of essential goods. Rice prices, for example, ranged from P59 to P60 from January to May, before dropping to P49 after the implementation of the mandatory selling retail price.

Prices of meat products, like pork liempo, increased from P330 in January to P370 in June. Fish prices varied, peaking in February, while highland vegetables and ginger saw significant price increases, with ginger reaching P180 from P80.