The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned retailers and wholesalers in Western Visayas not to exploit the surge in fuel prices as a justification to arbitrarily raise the prices of agricultural and fishery products, stressing that supply remains stable and price manipulation will be closely monitored. The warning comes as global oil prices continue to climb due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a development that has begun pushing up pump prices in the Philippines and raising fears of higher food costs.

Sornito, I. (2026, March 13). Fuel price surge not valid excuse to raise agri-fishery prices, says DA. Panay News, pp. 1, 2.