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| House Speaker Martin Romualdez warns against hoarding and price manipulation of onions and garlic, calling it economic sabotage. |
House Speaker Martin Romualdez warned traders and hoarders of onions and garlic who are allegedly behind the persistent rise in prices of these products. According to Romualdez, this is considered economic sabotage, and those responsible should be held accountable.
"Bilang na ang araw ninyo!..May mga impormasyon kami na tinatago nila ang mga sibuyas, at ngayon pati mga bawang na rin para kapusin ang suplay at tumaas ang presyo ng mga ito [Your days are numbered! We have information that they are hoarding onions and now garlic to squeeze the supply and increase prices]," Romualdez said.
The continued high market prices of onions, despite local farmers harvesting onions and the arrival of imported ones, is a major issue, according to Romualdez. In response, the House Speaker will direct the House Committee on Agriculture to launch an investigation and, if necessary, recommend charging the hoarders and traders.
Additionally, Romualdez mentioned that they may recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos the importation of onions and garlic to force the traders to release their stocks and lower prices, which would relieve consumers.
However, they will still study the importation to avoid affecting local farmers, including the number of imports and timing to avoid affecting the livelihoods of local onion and garlic farmers during a time when there is no harvest.
Romualdez also plans to monitor the prices of these vegetables daily. He also said that the smuggling of onions and other similar agricultural products in the country, which kills the local industry, must be stopped.