PINURI ng isa sa mga lider ng House committee on agriculture and food ang ulat na bumaba ng hanggang P10 ang kada kilo ng sibuyas at siniguro na magpapatuloy ang Kamara de Representantes sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Ronualdez sa pagtugis sa mga hoarder at price manipulator.

“We commend the efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in stabilizing the retail prices of essential commodities, and we welcome as good news its report that the retail price of onions has decreased by P10 per kilo, with the cost of the red bulbs going down to P130 per kilo from the previous P140 per kilo,” sabi ni Deputy Majority Leader Rep. David Suarez (2nd Dist., Quezon Province).

“Buoyed by this development, and upon the instruction of Speaker Martin Romualdez, the House Committee on Agriculture and Food will intensify its investigation on hoarders and price manipulators not only of onions but of other staple food items like rice,” ani Suarez.

Tinuran ni Suarez na malinaw ang atas ni Speaker Romualdez na susuportahan ng Kamara ang panawagan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na all-out war laban sa mga sangkot sa smuggling, hoarding at pagmamanipula ng presyo.

“Our mission order is clear: there is no room for smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators under this administration,” diin nito.

Ayon kay Suarez patunay na epektibo ang pagkakaroon ng matibay na ugnayan ng ehekutibo at Kamara de Representantes laban sa mga mapagsamantala, ang pagbaba sa presyo ng sibuyas at pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga sangkot sa artipisyal na kawalan ng suplay ng sibuyas.

“The continuing reduction in the price of onion is a testament to the effectiveness of our strategies against price manipulation and profiteering. However, it does not signify the end of our mission. The Speaker said there will be no let-up in our committee investigation until we break down the cartels responsible for hoarding and artificial shortages of basic commodities,” wika pa ni Suarez.

Kinilala rin ng mambabatas ang masinop na pagbabantay ng DA na nagresulta sa mas abot kayang presyo ng sibuyas, bawang at iba pang bilihin.

Positibo rin ang pagtanggap ng mambabatas sa anunsyo ni Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa na mayroong sapat na suplay ng gulay, kabilang ang patatas hanggang sa unang bahagi ng 2024.

Pinuri rin ni Suarez ang inaasahang paghupa ng presyo ng patatas at ang malaking bawas sa presyo ng lokal na sili na mula P800 kada kilo noong Setyembre ay bumagsak na lang sa P350 kada kilo.

“However, while we celebrate these gains, we remain committed to ensuring that no individual or entity takes undue advantage of our citizens. The recent controversy surrounding the onion crisis in 2022, where prices skyrocketed to as high as P720 per kilo, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges we face,” dagdag pa ni Suarez.

“The House Committee on Food and Agriculture will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the DA and other relevant agencies to ensure that the Filipino people are safeguarded from price manipulations and hoarding activities,” sabi pa nito.

Sinabi ni Suarez na dapat ipagpatuloy ng ehekutibo ang pagsasampa ng kaso at pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot sa kartel at siguruhin na makukulong ang mga ito.