Senator Francis Pangilinan has pressed agriculture officials to disclose the names of traders and middlemen accused of exploiting farmers and fisherfolk, warning that these practices deepen poverty and threaten food security.
At a Senate hearing in Nueva Ecija, onion farmers from several provinces detailed alleged price manipulation and unfair market practices. Pangilinan said the committee is ready to summon those involved and demand accountability.
“Ang panawagan din natin… ibigay sa atin ang pangalan; ipapatawag natin para magpaliwanag,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the steep drop in onion farm-gate prices and reports that some cold storage operators favor traders over farmers. According to Pangilinan, this forces farmers to sell their produce at lower prices due to lack of storage access.
“Hindi natin pababayaan itong isyu na ito. Babantayin natin ang industriya ng sibuyas,” Pangilinan added.
The senator vowed to continue the probe into onion pricing, smuggling, and importation, stressing that these issues harm farmers and put the country’s food security at risk.IMT
