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'Masyadong matakaw sa kita': Romualdez refuses to let greedy traders, middlemen off the hook
'Masyadong matakaw sa kita': Romualdez refuses to let greedy traders, middlemen off the hook
At A Glance
- House Speaker Martin Romualdez has issued a stern warning to "profiteers" to moderate their greed amid the growing disparity between farm gate prices of agricultural products and retail prices of basic goods.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez has issued a stern warning to "profiteers" to moderate their greed amid the growing disparity between farm gate prices of agricultural products and retail prices of basic goods.
"So, sa mga nag-profiteer, sa mga traders, sa mga middlemen na masyadong matakaw sa mga kita nila, basta bantay na lang kayo. Basta moderate your greed and try to be more reasonable," Romualdez said during an impromptu press briefing Monday, April 29.
(So, to the profiteers, the traders, the middlemen who are too greedy when it comes to their profit, keep an eye out. Just moderate your greed and try to be more reasonable.)
The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president gave these remarks following a hearing by the House Committee on Trade and Industry on the low farm gate prices and high retail prices.
Romualdez was dismayed upon learning from Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials who attended the hearing that they had no immediate solution to the problem.
Similarly expressing their dismay at the press briefing were committee chairman, Iloilo 4th district Rep. Ferjenel Biron and House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo.
Farm gate prices refer to the prices received by farmers once their crops are sold at the farm's location. Retail prices, on the other hand, are the prices that consumers pay for products, particularly in small quantities.
"Naghanap kami ng mas maaga at mas magandang paraan kung paano natin aagapan itong trend na tumataas iyong bilihin," Romualdez said.
(We are looking for more immediate and better solutions on how to address this trend of runway prices of basic goods.)
In this regard, the House chief said he would have the traders and middlemen themselves attend the next hearing so they may answer the solon's queries.
"Tatawagan natin yung mga trader, yung mga middlemen. Tatanungin natin kung bakit ang malalaking agwat naman, yung farm gate ay ganito, yung binebenta niyo ay ganito masyadong malayo ang diperensya," he said.
(We will invite the traders, the middlemen. We will ask them why there's such a huge disparity, why the farm gate is at this level, and why they're selling at prices so far from it.)
And they'd better answer properly. Although none of the congressmen said it, the House, during its inquiries, may hold a resource person in detention if they feel that they are being uncooperative.
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"So i-inquire natin kung bakit ganon. ung di maayos yung explanation, kung masyadong matakaw lang sa kita, sabihin natin i-moderate nila yan kasi kung hindi, talagang agrabyado tayong lahat at syempre may mananagot diyan, hindi ba?" Romualdez said.
(So we will inquire why that happened. If they don't give a proper explanation and they just greedy with profit, we'll tell them to moderate it because if not, then we will all suffer and we will hold someone accountable, right?)
In his speech during plenary session, the Speaker declared, “The discrepancy between farmgate and retail prices of basic goods is alarming and warrants immediate attention.”
“We cannot ignore the plight of our farmers who are struggling to make ends meet, nor can we turn a blind eye to the burden placed on consumers,” he added.