Speaker Romualdez monitors Quinta Com hearings on prices of food commodities
UNKNOWN to many, Speaker Martin Romualdez monitored every hearing of the Quinta Committee on the current high price of food commodities.
According to House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Erwin Tulfo, “Every hearing bini-brief namin si Speaker Romualdez hinggil sa status at development ng hearing.”
“Siya naman kasi ang nag-utos na buuin ang Quinta Committee para maimbestigahan kung may cartel o sindikato na nagmamanipula ng presyo ng pagkain lalo na ang bigas,” Cong. Tulfo said.
In two hearings conducted by five committees, namely the Ways and Means, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Social Services, and Food Security, it was learned that the price of rice is at P33.15 per kilo when it arrives in the country, however, it shoots up to P65 per kilo once it reaches the market.
According to Tulfo, “Someone is making a lot of money at the expense of the consumers.”
For House Committee on Agriculture chairman Cong. Mark Enverga, “Ang purpose ni Speaker kaya itinatag itong Quinta Committee ay hanapan ng solusyon ang mahal na bilihin”.
“And we found out na may cartel nga na kumikilos at sila ang kumikita”, Enverga added.
“We have made suggestion to the Speaker para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado”, Iloilo 1st Dist. Rep. Janet Garin said.
Cong. Garin also said that, “Mag-uusap ata si Speaker Romualdez at Agri Sec. Laurel this week para ilatag kung papaano pababain ang presyo ng bigas”.
According to the Office of the Speaker, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to place Kadiwa Stores in every market so the public could avail of cheaper rice in the market.
