The Manila Times

Ex-Agri chief denies link to onion cartel

BY JANINE ALEXIS P. MIGUEL

FORMER Agriculture secretary William Dar on Thursday said he had nothing to do with the increase in the price of onions, which was blamed on a cartel.

Dar testified during a hearing in the House of Representatives that was looking into the surge in the price of onions last year.

He said the price rise happened after his term ended on June 30, 2022.

“Simply put, we did not have any hand in the price surge of onions that reached as high as P700 per kilogram during the last quarter of 2022,” Dar said.

Dar responded to the questioning by House Committee on Agriculture and Food chairman Quezon First District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga.

He said he detests being linked to a cartel and a certain Leah Cruz, who had been dubbed as the “Sibuyas Queen” by the Department of Justice in 2014, and whose business had reportedly flourished during the term of former Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala.

Enverga had claimed during a hearing last month that Cruz had been manipulating the onion market even before the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“I am more than willing to answer any inquiries on the onion issue, and repulse the malicious insinuation that I was involved in a cartel, which was grossly unfair, tarnishing my name,” Dar said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Dar said the country had an onion surplus of 107,719 metric tons when he was DA chief from Aug. 5, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

The price of onions ranged between P90 and P240 from January to June 2022, the last six months of Dar’s tenure.

Citing figures provided by Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, during a public hearing on onion prices, Dar said when the Duterte administration’s term ended in July, prices of the bulb started to rise, from P90 to P140 in August, and up to P200 in October. It more than doubled to P500 in November, peaking at P700 in December, he said. In January 2023, prices settled to a range from P350 to P500 per kilo.

“As the investigations and public hearings continue, it is essential to consider the factual data and timelines surrounding the onion supply situation, and how to attain optimum onion production and supply,” Dar said.

He suggested that the Bureau of Plant Industry, High Value Crops Development Program, Regional Field Offices, and other onion stakeholders convene and address the major factors behind the sudden price increases.

“Like the general public, I also eagerly await the opportunity to clarify misconceptions and unfounded insinuations,” Dar said.

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2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281500755636037

The Manila Times