MANILA, Philippines – With Christmas fast approaching, President Benigno Aquino III has ordered his Cabinet to ensure that prices of “Noche Buena” food are within the appropriate range.
“As recently as last week, nagpatawag na ang Pangulo ng pagpupulong at mahigpit ‘yung pag-uutos sa lahat ng mga ahensiya, lalung-lalo na ang Department of Agriculture na tutukan ‘yung supply and price situation,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a televised press briefing.
(As recently as last week, the President called for a meeting where he ordered all agencies, especially the Department of Agriculture to focus on the supply and price situation.)
He said because Christmas was near and the demand for the “usual Noche Buena fare” was expected to increase, prime commodities such as ham and chicken are among the products that will be monitored in terms of prices.
Garlic prices
Coloma added that the recent report on the cause of high prices of garlic was a product of the government’s continuing efforts to “stop abuses that produce disadvantage and detriment to our populace.”
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday said investigation on the spike of garlic prices revealed that the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) had a hand in promoting monopoly in the industry.
“We are recommending its abolition and the establishment of a fair and transparent system that will allow competition in the garlic industry consistent with the dictates of justice,” De Lima said.
Coloma pointed out that Aquino had been instructing agencies to determine the cause of “unusual price movements” during the last several months.
“And the President continues to monitor this matter because it is of primary importance to the government that there are no abuses, especially as this concerns…price movements of prime commodities that are on the food table of Filipino families every day,” he assured the public.
Asked if Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala will be held accountable for smuggling of agricultural goods, Coloma merely said that law enforcement agents continue to address the problem.
“Nag-raid na ng mga warehouses ng mga rice traders, nag-file na ng mga kaso. At ito nga, ano, ‘yung latest result na pati ‘yung mga nagsasamantala sa pagpapataas ng presyo ng bawang ay pinapanagot na ng pamahalaan,” he said.
(We have raided warehouses of rice traders, filed cases. And now, the latest result is that we are holding accountable those who have colluded to raise the price of garlic.)
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