House panel discovers why price ceiling wasn't imposed on onions

(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. received no recommendation to impose a price ceiling on the runaway costs of onions late last year. 

This, after the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) failed to convene--on multiple occasions--and discuss such a recommendation that could have conceivably mitigated the effects of the onion price surge. 

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food learned aboutthis lapse during the continuation of its inquiry Wednesday, Aug 23 on the agricultural hoarding issue. Attending the probe as a resource person was Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau Director lawyer Melquiades Marcus Valdez. 

During the interpellation of Pasig City lone district Rep. Roman Romulo, Valdez confirmed to the panel that the council has the power to recommend to Malacañang a price ceiling on a commodity. 

Valdez is the head of the secretariat ng NPCC Knowing this, Romulo said that he should've had the initiative to convene the body for the purpose of coming up with a recommendation to the Palace giving the soaring prices of onions in the fourth quarter of 2022. 

"Mr. Chair, I'm embarrassed to say it on record, but we have been calling for meetings of the price coordinating council, but the members have not been attending, Mr. Chair," the DTI official sheepishly told the House panel. 

The NPCC's members are the secretaries of various departments, including the DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National and Economic Development Authority (NEDA), to name a few. 

Romulo noted that these agencies can designate "alternates" who can attend NPCC meetings.

"Kahit alternate ayaw sumama [sa meetings]?" asked the Pasig solon, to which Valdez replied, "Yes, Mr. Chair...we have the records to prove this." 

Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. sought from the DTI official the names of these alternates for the committee's record. 

It was during the last quarter of 2022 when onion prices reached an absurd P700 per kilo, making it even more expensive than meat.