The House Quinta Committee will be summoning private business sectors in their succeeding hearings to hear their “inputs, insights, and valuable information,” that may be helpful to their ongoing proceedings on the country’s agriculture sector.
During the House panel hearing on Tuesday, November 26, Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo pointed out how crucial people from the agricultural sector, such as farmers, traders, and vendors, were not invited.
“Napansin ko na halos lahat ng government agencies ay narito na. Pero yung mga farmers, traders, vendors, transportation, ay wala dito. Sila kasi ang makakasagot on what is happening on the ground,” Tulfo highlighted.
Tulfo wanted answers as to why agricultural prices skyrocketed in recent years, considering how products at farm gates are sold at a cheaper price.
“Kasi basing in our investigations and our research, ang farmgate ng vegetables ay mura, pagdating sa palengke nagmamahal. Now we have a problem here sir, na trabaho dapat ng ahensiya ‘yan. Merong malaking disparity,” he said.
“Sa farmgate napaka mura, pagdating sa Metro Manila, napakalaki,” he added.
Tulfo questioned where the problem lies, and grew suspicious as to why prices seem to climb higher than the product’s initial price.
“Somebody’s making money here, Mr. Chair. Ito ang kailangan nating marinig. Itong mga taong ito; yung mga farmers natin, mga trader natin, vendors association, transportation etc. kailangan natin marinig,” he stated.
Due to the suspicious pricing, Tulfo moved that the House panel summon private business sectors to attend the next hearing to hear their side.
Meanwhile, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda motioned to summon all documents from the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) investigations and other deliberations concerning rice cartels.
Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo also noted that there is an ongoing investigation on the onion cartel, and is on adjudication.
The Quinta Committee is a collaboration of several House committees to investigate the issues of smuggling and price manipulation in basic goods and essential commodities.
