The Department of Agriculture assured the public food prices will not rise even after strong rains battered Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

In his report to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Friday, Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas said reports saying food commodities normally spike during typhoon season are not true because producers have not changed farm gate prices.

“We are monitoring shipments coming from Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas. Shipments are coming to Metro Manila in order to fill-up the need,” Rudinas said.

He warned speculators spreading wrong information about food commodity prices will be punished. The DA deployed people to monitor the prices in 19 major markets in Metro Manila to ensure that vendors will not increase their prices.