FILE PHOTO: Leocadio Sebastian during the continuation of the joint hybrid hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform on the alleged irregular sugar importation order, on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. (Joseph Vidal and Voltaire F. Domingo / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — A Department of Agriculture (DA) official on Tuesday said he does not believe that the so-called rice cartel exists in the country.
DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian was grilled during a hearing of the House committee on appropriations on the DA’s proposed P108.5 billion budget for 2024.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. fired the question about the DA’s action against the supposed rice cartel in the country.
“We still have the rice cartel today, what is the DA doing about it?” Abante asked Sebastian, who replied: “We recognize the problem, Mr. Chair—”
But the lawmaker interrupted the DA official: “Let me interject, do you believe there is a rice cartel?”
“Mr. Chair, the rice industry is very big in the country, it’s a big industry,” Sebastian explained.
But Abante was not happy with such an answer: “Don’t answer me that, I am asking if you believe there is a rice cartel.”
“I don’t believe, Mr. Chair, [that] there is a rice cartel [in the country],” Sebastian responded to Abante’s surprise.
“The Philippine Competition Commission believes there is a rice cartel. In the City of Manila, we believe there is a rice cartel. This is the first time, the first time [I’ve heard the] answer that there is no rice cartel,” the congressman said.
“I’m not angry, I’m just dynamic,” Abante also quickly retorted in an apparent bid to diffuse tension.
Rice prices surged to as high as P56 a kilo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to go after hoarders and price manipulators taking advantage of the price hike, as he also pointed to costly farm gate prices and importation as among factors that contribute to increased price of the Filipinos’ favorite staple food.
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