Lawmakers back probe on high cost of basic commodities

House of Representatives plenary. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — House leaders on Thursday said the upcoming probe on the price disparity in basic commodities will serve as a warning to abusive business owners who deliberately hike prices illegally.

This came after Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday announced that the lower chamber would investigate the reason for the high cost of basic commodities when farmers, manufacturers, and grocery stores have denied making significant price adjustments.

READ: House execs want to check reason for high cost of basic commodities

“The pronouncements of Speaker [Romualdez] about the investigation are serious, and it should serve as a warning to our unscrupulous businessmen who are engaged in cartels in various industries in the agriculture sector,” House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jay Khonghun said in a statement.

“Please don’t do it, not at the expense of our poor kababayans. Otherwise, we will be forced to implement the full force of the law. And if worse comes to worst, we can [take] them to court for economic sabotage, a non-bailable offense,” he added.

Other lawmakers, such as La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega and Taguig Rep. Pammy Zamora, also shared Khonghun’s sentiments.

According to Zamora, the interest of consumers should be protected, especially those belonging to the impoverished sector.

“In times like these, government intervention is necessary to prevent abuses done with impunity,” Zamora said.

Ortega, for his part, pointed out that “food is an essential part of everyone’s being.”

“The poorest of the poor need nourishment the most among our population, which is a huge part. Imagine they have to grapple with the almost never-ending inflation, yet our business sector still takes advantage of them. This shouldn’t be,” Ortega said.

READ: Manufacturers assure House: No price increase on basic goods

Meanwhile, other House lawmakers also committed to backing the probe, with House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong stressing how it could “shine light on the plights of farmers.”

Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario, meanwhile, pointed out the “delicate balance” between farm gate prices and retail prices.

“For farm gate prices to be low and retail prices to be high is the worst-case scenario since it hurts both the farmer and the consumer,” said Almario.

“If this is truly the case, then the House probe will nip this problem in the bud. That’s why we fully support it and I am personally eager to join the discussions and help the panel get to the bottom of the matter,” Almario, a member of the House committee on agriculture and food, said.

Deputy Majority Leader Margarita Nograles also committed to backing the investigation, claiming that the huge gap in farm gate and retail prices of rice and other basic commodities shows an “abuse and utter disregard for the welfare of fellow Filipinos. ”

“Our goal is to halt this apparent profiteering and to implement the laws where they apply,” she noted.

The lower chamber’s committee on agriculture and food is scheduled to hold the investigation in aid of legislation once sessions resume next week.