SPEAKER Martin Romualdez yesterday ordered the House Committee Agriculture and Food to investigate the “widening gap” between farmgate and retail prices of rice and other basic goods when session resume next week.
“I would ask Chairman (Quezon Rep.) Mark Enverga of the Committee on Agriculture to immediately start the ball rolling for an investigation into the disconnect between farmgate and retail prices of basic goods,” Romualdez said. “The discrepancy between farmgate and retail prices of basic goods is alarming and warrants immediate attention. We cannot ignore the plight of our farmers who are struggling to make ends meet, nor can we turn a blind eye to the burden placed on consumers,” he also said.
The Speaker ordered the motu proprio investigation after he and Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS) met last Tuesday with representatives of producers, retailers, and grocery stores who all denied making substantial adjustments on the prices of basic commodities.
Jayson Cainglet of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) told the lawmakers that farmgate prices of rice, poultry, pork, and even onions have been the same in the past three months.
But Romualdez insisted that the House would still look into the price discrepancies in the exercise of its oversight functions while also committing to conduct a thorough review of laws seeking to protect the interest of both consumers and producers and deter profiteering.
“It is imperative that we conduct a comprehensive review of our laws to ensure that they effectively safeguard the interests of our farmers and consumers. We must take proactive measures to prevent profiteering and promote a fair and transparent trading environment,” he said.
The House leader said the review “aims to identify and address loopholes that may contribute to profiteering and unfair pricing practices within the supply chain.”
“At the end of the day, we want to make sure that all the stakeholders in whatever industry or sectors are viable, if they are in the business side of it, so that it becomes sustainable so that we can continue delivering basic goods and services to the consumers at sustainable, affordable prices,” he said.
While the process of instituting reforms to ensure a stable supply and affordable prices of food is being undertaken, Romualdez said the House would “work toward widening the scope of interventions while we are simultaneously working on the long-term solution or (the) target of rice self-sufficiency, and efficiencies are generated.”
He particulalry cited the Cash and Rice Assistance (CARD) program, which is a joint initiative of the House and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide qualified indigents with rice, along with cash for other food items.
