Romualdez wants to calibrate food imports to stop hoarding

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE speaker of the House of Representatives has directed the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to study the option of recommending to the President the calibrated importation of onion and garlic.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez made a statement on Sunday as he warned unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic suspected of being behind the continued high prices of these agricultural products in the market.

According to Romualdez, he has instructed the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an investigation and, if warranted by the evidence, recommend the filing of appropriate criminal charges against the people behind this scheme.

“This is economic sabotage,” he said.

Also, he said the House panel “will study the option of recommending to the President the calibrated importation of onion and garlic as a means to force these unscrupulous individuals to unload their stocks and drive down the prices to alleviate the burden on the consumers.”

For his part, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Mark Enverga said his committee will immediately conduct its probe against unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic in aid of legislation.

“As discussed and instructed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, the committee on agriculture and food will prioritize an inquiry and investigation on unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic in aid of legislation,” Enverga told the BusinessMirror via Viber.

“It is high time that we put an end to such an unconscionable practice that affects both our local farmers and consumers. We will act on this matter immediately.”

Romualdez noted reports that despite the ongoing harvest season and the entry of imported onions, retail prices remained high.

“We received information that these people are hoarding onion, and more recently even garlic, to create an artificial scarcity in supply and induce price increases.”

However, Romualdez said that such importation should not in any way prejudice the welfare of the local farmers.

“It is very important to ensure that any importation should consist of such quantity and be done well ahead of the harvest season to avoid any adverse effect on the livelihood of our local farmers.”

Apart from the investigation, Romualdez wants daily monitoring of the prices of onion and garlic in local markets.

“People are still trying to recover from the pandemic. The last thing we need is an unreasonable rise in food prices.”

Romualdez also said concerned government agencies should address the smuggling of onion and other agricultural products that stifles the local industry.

Researcher conducts study on use of cacao waste as feed for milkfish

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said a researcher from the Davao Oriental State University is studying the feasibility of using cacao waste materials as alternative feed for bangus (milkfish).

Dr. Edison Roi Macusi, associate professor at the university, is currently conducting his research on cacao waste as possible feed materials.

The study received funding recently from the DOST. A memorandum of agree - ment (MOA) for the research project was signed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 11 (BFAR-11) and the Davao Oriental State University.

The World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project Mindanao (PRDP) also contributed P1.7 million for the project.

The funding was part of the Investments for Planning at the Local and National Levels (I-PLAN) convergence initiatives of DA that supports the implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan.

Macusi said the high cost of feeds “is the number one identified problem in terms of milkfish aquaculture.” He will serve as the project’s team leader.

“One of the objectives of the project is to examine and develop locally available feed materials such as cacao waste materials. Hopefully, we can develop cheaper alternative feed ingredients,” he said.

The project titled “Enhancing Food Security, Social Inclusion, and Sustainability in the Milkfish Aquaculture Through the Use of Indigenous Raw Materials as Feed Components,” started last month and would conclude by December. Dr. Anthony Sales, DOST-11 regional director, said he looks forward to the successful implementation of the project.

“We signed this MOA and we funded this project because we are committed to the objectives of PRDP and its component projects which are also aligned with our mandates and programs in research, development, and innovation,” Sales said.

Abel James Monteagudo, regional director of DA-Regional Field Office 11 and also the project director for the PRDP Mindanao Cluster, said the partnership with Davao Oriental State University would help address the country’s food security issues.