Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has “nothing to hide” about the high prices of onions and its order to import the commodity, an official said Friday.
‘
Rex Estoperez, agriculture deputy spokesperson, said the agency submitted its response to the Office of the Ombudsman over its inquiry on high onion prices.
‘
He said the DA had been asked to explain the supposed shortage of onions as well as its order to import the produce amid the harvest season.
‘
“Isa lang naman ‘yung aming stand doon sa kung may shortage. Well, tingnan natin ‘yung sufficiency level,” Estoperez said.
‘
[Translation: Our stand is still the same as to whether there is a shortage. Well, let’s look at the sufficiency level.]
‘
“‘Yung mag-import tayo, lahat naman ng factors considered before we go into that. Siyempre, kapakanan ng ating magsasaka ‘yung tinitingnan natin,” he added.
‘
[Translation: As for the importation, we considered all factors before going into that. Our farmers are always our priority.]
‘
The agency was also questioned about the deal between Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) and Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative, where the DA bought onions for ₱537 per kilogram, but sold these at Kadiwa stores for only ₱170 per kilogram. A budget of ₱140 million was set aside for the purchase.
‘
“Wala naman tayong tinatago, eh,” Estoperez said. “Except for the FTI, Bonena, siguro naman, meron silang dokumento.”
‘
