MANILA, Philippines- Itinanggi ni dating Agriculture Chief William Dar ang pagkakasangkot sa umano’y kartel sa likod ng pagtaas ng presyo ng sibuyas noong nakaraang taon.
Sinabi ito ni Dar ngayong Huwebes, at inihayag ang kahandaan na ipagtanggol ang sarili mula sa anumang akusasyon hinggil sa kontrobersyal na sirit-presyo.
“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,” giit niya.
Sa pagdinig nitong nakaraang buwan, sinabi ni House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman at Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga na isang Leah Cruz, tinaguriang “Sibuyas Queen,” ang nakapasok na sa merkado bago pa ang administrasyon ni Pangulogn Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Ayon sa mambabatas, na si Dar, namuno sa agriculture department sa huling parte ng Duterte administration, “had a lot of explaining to do.”
Subalit, binigyang-diin ni Dar na ang pagtaas ng presyo ay “after our term.”
“In contrast, prices of onion were stable during our incumbency,” aniya.
“Simply put, we did not have any hand in the price surge of onion, that reached as high as ₱700 per kilogram (kg) during the last quarter of 2022,” dagdag ng dating opisyal.
Batay sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority, sinabi ni Dar na sa kanyang panunungkulan mula August 5, 2019 hanggang June 30, 2022, ang bansa ay mayroong labis na 107,719 metric tons ng sibuyas.
Sinabi rin niya na ang presyo ng sibuyas sa unang anim na buwan ng 2022 ay ₱60 hanggang ₱80 kada kilo.
“Like the general public, I also eagerly await the opportunity to clarify misconceptions and unfounded insinuations,” sabi niya.
“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,” dagdag ni Dar. RNT/SA
