By: Faith Argosino – Reporter

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives quinta committee has vowed to intensify its efforts to lower rice prices, as it urged the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to “develop and enforce a framework to dismantle cartels and prevent price-fixing.”

To do so, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga — who heads the committee on agriculture and one of the quinta panel chairs — said Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, is the key.

“The law grants the government stronger legal tools to combat hoarding, price manipulation, and cartel activities, imposing severe penalties—including life imprisonment and hefty fines—on violators,” Enverga said in a statement on Sunday.

Following the enactment of this law in September 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. created the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group, which focuses on “dismantling smuggling operations and apprehending offenders, along with the development of a special team of prosecutors nationwide to expedite cases related to agricultural sabotage.”

Enverga urged the group to swiftly form a framework that would dismantle cartels and stop price-fixing.

“The message of this law is clear: We will no longer tolerate the exploitative businessmen who make it difficult for our farmers and consumers to earn a living. The enforcement group should act now to stop this kind of work,” he said in Filipino.

He likewise urged the Department of Trade and Industry to establish a suggested retail price (SRP) formula for rice, similar to other essential commodities, and to require importers to show the SRP on rice packaging.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs “would assess tariffs based on declared purchase costs, wholesale prices, and SRP,” he added.

Enverga also assured the public that the panel would not allow the government to rely on rice importation since it believes that “boosting domestic rice production is key to long-term food security.”

Enverga’s statements came following the government’s decision to sell National Food Authority rice at P35 per kilo. Although the lawmaker believes that it provided relief to consumers, he said more work needs to be done and the panel could still push for lower rice prices.

The Quinta panel consists of five panels — ways and means, trade and industry, agriculture and food, social services, and the special committee on food security — tasked with curbing smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation, and hunger.

Published Date: March 2, 2025