THE Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has committed to submit to lawmakers within the week a list of the policy reforms which it said would stop price manipulation of agricultural products, specifically onions.
DA-BPI Director Gerard Glenn Panganiban made the commitment to House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he guaranteed the agency’s participation in the chamber’s ongoing investigation into the price manipulation of onions and other agricultural products last year.
It was Romualdez who called for a congressional probe into the matter.
Panganiban said among the reforms being eyed by the agency include the following: opening up onion importation to prevent certain traders from cornering supply, frontloading aid to farmers to encourage production, the possibility of suspending importation during harvest season, and a review of existing tariff rates on imported onions to protect local farmers.
The meeting between Romualdez and Panganiban was held to finalize the government’s action plan and reforms meant to smash the cartel responsible for manipulating the supply and price of onion in the country.
“Those who are part of the solution we will help; those who are part of the problem, we will not tolerate. We will go after them and make the proper recommendation for prosecution,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker also stressed the need to increase onion production in the country to reduce dependence on imports, prompting Panganiban to say that the BPI is exploring various avenues for this purpose, including the use of idle lands of the Bureau of Corrections for onion production.
Among those present in the meeting at the Speaker’s Office were Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, whose expose unmasked key cartel personalities and allied firms.
Rep. Zaldy Co (PL Ako Bicol), chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, and Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit also attended the meeting, as well as other BPI officials.
Romualdez said President Marcos, Jr., who is the concurrent DA secretary, has expressed appreciation for the effort of the House to go against the onion cartel, particularly the expose of Quimbo who believes that some members of the BPI are in cahoots with the onion cartel in the country led by trader Leah Cruz who, according to the lawmaker, remains the “undisputed Sibuyas Queen.”
