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House probe sought on 'overpriced' onions

Philippines | National

House probe sought on 'overpriced' onions

By Ellson Quismorio

Militant congressmen are calling on the Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on what they described as the "potential overpricing and price manipulation of onions in the market".

(Unsplash)

Makabayan bloc members ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel filed for this purpose House Resolution (HR) No.673.
In the measure, the trio noted the alarming price range for onion, which is among the most commonly used vegetable in any household.

"As of September to October 2022, the price of white onion began to tremendously increase, with the cost per kilogram rising to around P300 to P400," the two-page resolution read.

"As of Dec. 28, 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the price of local red onions was between P500 to P720 per kilogram, while the price of local white onions was P800 per kilogram," it stated.

The authors noted that "such price level of onions surpassed the highest daily minimum wage in the country at P570, and was way higher than the per-kilogram cost of pork in the market".

They recalled that in mid-November 2022, the farm gate price of onions was only P25 to P27 per kilogram.

The Makabayan solons said that the huge discrepancy between farm gate price and retail price "indicates potential price manipulation which makes onions more expensive".

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"Aside from that", they continued, "smuggling and over-importation of onions remain major problems, which also severely affect local supply and prices".

The agriculture and food panel is chaired by Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga.

Related Tags

overpricing inquiry overpriced House of Representatives Arlene Brosas PRICE MANIPULATION Makabayan onions Investigation 10522 FRANCE CASTRO raoul manuel

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