A PARTY-LIST legislator called for farmers’ transportation costs to be subsidized in order to ease the flow of goods to the major markets and provide relief to consumers from rising food prices.
In a radio interview Sunday, Ang Probinsyano Representative Ronnie L. Ong said: “Madalang na ang transportasyon (The supply of transport is tight for) goods from the provinces to the cities so this way matutulungan mo ang dalawang sector, (it will be possible to help two sectors, farmers and consumers)” he said.
He added that price controls on food should not be imposed without due consultation.
“Ang hirap magdikta ngayon ng price freeze (it’s hard to dictate a price freeze)… we should have a dialogue. Hindi pwede ang immediate reaction (There cannot be an immediate reaction),” he said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has alleged that price manipulation is behind the rising prices, and asked the Philippine Competition Commission to investigate traders and wholesalers.
Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy said in a statement Sunday that the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should take action on rising prices.
She said, “It is high time that the DA and DTI do something about the rising cost of food prices being complained by the general public.”
The House of Representatives will investigate the rising prices of food starting Tuesday under orders from Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco. — Gillian M. Cortez