SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday afternoon said traders and middlemen better give the proper responses to congressmen once the House Committee on Trade and Industry continues its inquiry on the soaring prices of basic goods despite plunging farm gate prices.
This, as Romualdez vowed that people would be made accountable if the invited traders won’t be able to justify the runaway prices of their products.
“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,” Romualdez said in a press conference with Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo and trade panel chairman, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron.
“So i-inquire natin kung bakit ganon. Iyung ‘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.
Earlier Monday, the committee held a briefing on the growing disparity between farmgate prices and retail prices, as ordered by the Speaker himself.
Romualdez, Tulfo and Biron all expressed disappointment over the admission of resource persons from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that there was no immediate solution to the disparity.
So now, it’s the traders and middlemen who will be the resource persons in the next hearing, said Romualdez.
“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,” said the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.
He said the growing disparity between farm gate prices and retail prices must be abated for the sake of Filipino farmers and consumers.
He said that while he has nothing against businessmen who are out to make a profit, they should still be mindful of their countrymen who are struggling to make ends meet.
“Wala kaming problema, dapat kumita ang mga traders pero dapat ‘yung sapat na kita, hindi naman sobrang affected na ‘yung ating mga consumers dito. Mahirap na ang buhay, lalo na ang init ng panahon hindi ba? Kailangan naman magpakita ng konting malasakit sa ating mga kapwa nating Pilipino dito,” he said. (
