News Roundup 25 January 2023
Jan 25, 2023 • 4 min Read
Onion prices worldwide much lower, deepen questions on incredulous costs in PH | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—While the Philippine government, consumers, and farmers continue to bear the impact of high onion prices in the country, neighboring nations hardly face any issues in prices and supply of staple vegetable.
The price of red and white onion in local markets in the Philippines saw huge increases in the latter part of 2022 until last week. After that, the cost of a kilogram of onion skyrocketed and was sold at prices greater than a kilo of meat or a day’s worth of minimum wage.
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) price monitoring showed that as of January 23, a kilogram of local red and white onion costs P200-P350 in local markets.
While the prevailing retail prices of locally grown red and white onions were lower compared to the all-time high of P700 per kilogram during the holiday season, prices were still higher compared to the retail price of P180 per kilogram a year ago.
As it turns out, prices of onions in the Philippines were also significantly higher than retail prices in markets across the globe, as well as in Switzerland—where President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, who concurrently serves as the agriculture secretary, recently visited for the World Economic Forum.
Full Story at: Onion prices worldwide much lower, deepen questions on incredulous costs in PH | Inquirer News
Bongbong Marcos on staying on as agri chief: ‘They cannot say no’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday defended his decision to keep his concurrent position as agriculture secretary amid deepening challenges in the farming sector, saying he was in a better position to pursue reforms since stakeholders “cannot say no” to him as the chief executive.
As head of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which has resorted to importation to deal with supply chain issues and the high prices of onions and other produce, Marcos said he hoped to carry out his duties without having to issue “entreaties” to anyone, as a regular secretary might.
“For me, in the DA, there really are things that I can do that it would take [a permanent secretary] a long time,” he said in an interview with selected members of the press, later aired on state television.
“The president, they cannot say no to. And if they don’t fulfill my order, I can chastise them,” he said in reply to a question about calls made by some lawmakers for a full-time agriculture secretary.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, said she believed it would be better for the DA to have a secretary who could fully delve into the problems hounding the sector.
Full Story at: Bongbong Marcos on staying on as agri chief: ‘They cannot say no’ | Inquirer News
‘Next agriculture chief must have farmers’ welfare at heart’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The next agriculture chief should not just be an expert but should also be someone who has the farmers’ welfare at heart and genuinely devoted to working for food security and keeping prices in the country stable, Sen. Cynthia Villar said yesterday.
Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, issued the statement after Marcos indicated his intention to name soon his choice for the next chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which he currently heads.
“It’s good to have a permanent secretary of agriculture, a secretary of DA who loves the farmer. Remember the DA was called the Department of Importation,” Villar told reporters in Filipino, in mocking reference to the department’s seeming bias for importation of vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry to fill supply gaps. Local farmers have decried their loss of income and the decline of the agriculture industry in general due to massive importation and rampant smuggling.
Full Story at: ‘Next agriculture chief must have farmers’ welfare at heart’ | Philstar.com
Senate minority fails to pry Maharlika fund from Mark Villar’s committee | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The two-member Senate minority bloc was overwhelmed Wednesday by the majority as their bid to remove the bills that seek to create the Maharlika Investment Fund from Sen. Mark Villar’s panel failed.
Voting in plenary, 19 senators rejected Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III’s motion to change the referral of Senate Bill No. 1670 and House Bill No. 6608 from the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies chaired by Villar to the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises chaired by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Only Pimentel and Deputy Senate Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros voted in favor of the motion, while Sen. Pia Cayetano, sister of the other Sen. Cayetano, abstained.Full Story at: Senate minority fails to pry Maharlika fund from Mark Villar’s committee | Philstar.com
