The House of Representatives has gained a commitment from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that it would assist them in monitoring the entry of agricultural products in the country amid an ongoing panel inquiry on the issue of hoarding.
Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio personally gave this commitment Tuesday, Feb. 28 to members of the House Committee on Appropriations, which held a briefing with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
The DBCC is composed pf the country’s top economic managers. Rubio attended the hearing as a resource person.
"I would like to thank the Bureau for sending over your personnel yesterday (Monday) who shed light on recent rates on supposed hoarder of illegal onions," Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-Jay" Suarez said in a manifestation during Tuesday's proceedings.
Suarez was referring to the House Committee on Agriculture and Food's hearing on Monday, Feb. 27 about agricultural hoarding, which is closely related to price manipulation.
"With respect to this, we ask for the to give us a regular update on not only onions but on all agricultural products na pumapasok sa ating bansa. Can we ask this from your agency?" the solon asked Rubio.
"Yes sir, yes Mr. Chair," answered Rubio, who is only on his third week as BOC chief.
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Chaired by Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, the agriculture and food panel has been conducting nearly weekly hearings on the agri-hoarding issue.
No less than House Speaker Martin Romualdez ordered the inquiry as a response to the hefty price increases on onions and other agricultural products.
Rubio assured the congressmen that the BOC remains its "relentless" fight against smuggling, which could an offshoot of hoarding and tight supply.