Appeals for continuous gov’t monitoring and interventions

IN light of the alleged smuggling of the produce from other nations, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has voiced support for calls for a Senate investigation into the local onions’ skyrocketing prices.

“Ako po ay sang-ayon kung kailangang imbestigahan sa Senado ‘yung nakakabahalang pagtaas ng presyo ng sibuyas,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding fire victims in Parañaque City.

“Naghain na po ng resolution si Senator Imee Marcos para imbestigahan po ang pagtaas ng presyo ng sibuyas at kung kailangan pong imbestigahan, imbestigahan natin ito sa Senado,” added Go.

Senate Resolution No. 350 filed by Marcos cited the Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Circular No. 09 which sets the suggested retail price for red onions in Metro Manila at PhP170 per kilogram.

But despite the price ceiling, Marcos noted that onion continued to be expensive at public markets.

Meanwhile, Go cited Republic Act No. 10845, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, which could penalize anyone found to be guilty of economic sabotage.

“At mayroon tayong batas, ‘yung Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, posibleng economic sabotage po ito kung saka-sakaling mapatutunayan na malalaking volume po ang involved,” said Go.

According to the DA’s price monitoring, the going rate for locally grown red onions as of Tuesday was PhP500 per kilo, up 150% from PhP200 a year earlier.

The DA stated on Wednesday that the price of onions has surged to PhP600 per kilo in some public markets, which is double the price from last month.

In the meantime, Go appealed to the executive department to look into any anomaly that may be contributing to the skyrocketing prices of onions, noting that the commodity is commonly used by Filipinos.

“Ang apela ko lang po sa Executive Department, sa Bureau of Customs, Department of Agriculture, sa executive branch, sa DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), i-monitor n’yo po nang mabuti dahil marami po ang apektado dito,” said Go.

“Nakakabahala po ito. Importante po walang nakakalusot na illegal smuggling ng mga sibuyas,” said Go.

Go also reissued his call for the government to prioritize the welfare of small farmers and agricultural workers as he emphasized the need to eliminate agricultural smuggling, which has adverse impacts on the livelihoods of Filipino farmers nationwide.

“Proteksyunan po natin, protektahan natin ang ating mga local farmers. Unahin po natin ang ating mga farmers. Kapakanan po ng ating mga farmers ang unahin natin dahil sila po ang may binubuhay na mga pamilyang Pilipino,” stressed Go.

“Ako naman bilang legislator ay handa akong tumulong sa ating local farmers na pigilan po ito kung saka-sakali mang mayroong mga illegal smuggling po ng sibuyas,” he concluded.