FOOD PRICE WATCH
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez yesterday conducted a surprise inspection at two markets in Quezon City to monitor the prices of onion, rice, and other basic commodities following reports of price increases in some areas.
“Kaya andito tayo may mga ulat na tumataas na naman ang mga presyo kaya tinatanong natin dito sa mga nagtitinda ng sibuyas bigas at bawang kung ano talaga ang dahilan bakit tumataas,” Speaker Romualdez, head of the 312-member House of Representatives, said in an ambush interview at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City.
Prior to his surprise visit in Commonwealth Market, Speaker Romualdez was accompanied by ACT-CIS Party-list Reps. Erwin Tulfo and Edvic Yap in visiting Mega Q Mart in Cubao, Quezon City to inspect the actual operations of vendors and to see what’s causing the surge in prices of some agricultural products.
This developed as Speaker Romualdez also warned hoarders of basic commodities of possible prosecution.
The inspection, Speaker Romualdez added, was also to give warning not only to hoarders but also to government agencies including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and other concerned agencies, that they are strictly monitoring the prices in the market.
“Gusto naming malaman nila na binabantayan natin, kasi baka akala nila porke’t maraming nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea baka nakakalimutan natin ang isyu na ito. Hindi natin makakalimutan ito hindi natin pababayaan ito kasi ayaw nating mangyari ‘yung kagaya nung nakaraang taon na pumalo at sumipa ang bilihin dito lalo na sa sibuyas. Kaya bigla na lang nagkaroon ng shortage daw,” the Speaker said.
“Kaya sa mga hoarders sana naman wag nyo namang itago. Ilabas na lang ‘yan,” he added. “Huwag abusuhin at tutuluyan namin sila.”
Based on the monitoring of some basic commodities, Speaker Romualdez found out that prices slightly increased due to the adjustments that happened in the world market.
“Nakita natin sa world market talaga may effect, pero siyempre kailangan i-secure natin ‘yan. At syempre binabantayan din natin at dapat ding alagaan natin ‘yung mga magsasaka natin na dapat ay tamang presyo at anong klaseng suporta ang maibibigay sa kanila,” Speaker Romualdez noted.
“At kung ubos na ang ating production dapat ay merong reserve supply na galing sa Vietnam, Thailand o India. Gusto natin wag mag runaway ang presyo,” the Speaker added
Earlier, Speaker Romualdez has sought a “renewed campaign” to bring down the price of onion in the market, following monitoring reports that hoarders are active in price manipulation.
The Speaker also directed the officials of the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) to report to his office so they can explain to him and other House leaders why hoarders are able to manipulate the price of onion once again.
