Ejercito to Agri chief: Abolish onion cartel
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito on Tuesday urged Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to abolish the onion cartel which affects the livelihood of local farmers.
"Dapat nang buwagin ang kartel ng sibuyas na hindi lamang nakakapinsala sa kabuhayan ng mga lokal na magtatanim kundi sa ekonomiya ng bansa," Ejercito said in a statement.
Ejercito released the statement in reaction to the revelation of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Chair Rosendo So that the country's onion cartel overstocks imported and smuggled crops which forces the price of local products to drop.
The senator recently filed a bill which addresses the issue of monopoly in the agriculture sector. He cited rice smuggling as an example of economic sabotage that should be punishable by law.
"Ano na ang ginagawa ni Agriculture Sec. Alcala hinggil dito o tama ba ang hinala ng marami na pinoprotektahan din niya ang kartel na ito tulad ng diumanong pagtatanggol niya sa kartel ng bawang na pumerwisyo ng husto sa magtatanim ng bawang at maging sa ekonomiya ng bansa?" Ejercito asked.
According to So, onion farmers sell white onions for P10 to P12 per kilo and red onions for P7 to P9 per kilo while its market price remains at P35 to P40 per kilo.
Ejercito suggested that the administration conduct an inspection on warehouses in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to confirm the overstocking of imported and smuggled onions.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said that the people monopolizing onion prices in the market are the same people behind the garlic cartel.
More than 100 people were charged for manipulating garlic prices last year.
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