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DA ready to cooperate with Ombudsman probe on onion procurement —spox
By RICHA NORIEGA,GMA Integrated NewsThe Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it is ready to cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman in its investigation into the procurement of onions.
Interviewed on Balitanghali, DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez confirmed that the department has received the Ombudsman's communication that it will look into the procurement of onions worth over P500 per kilo by the DA and Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI).
Estoperez said they are preparing to answer the letter and gather the documents needed.
"'Yun po ang pine-prepare namin ngayon base sa aming data at saka yung mga impormasyon na nakukuha po natin sa ating mga grounds," he said.
(That's what we're preparing now based on our data and then the information we get from the ground.)
He said they are also looking into the possibility of collusion between the DA and the private sector.
"Tungkol doon na sinasabi nating sabwatan ng presyo between the FTI at saka DA, 'yun ang tinitignan natin kasi kailangan din 'yung cost structure at saka mga papeles na ito 'yung contract including 'yung mga dokumento kung paano ito binili,” he added.
(We are also looking at the alleged collusion between the FTI, the DA, and the private sector because the cost structure is also important and these contracts including the documents on how it was purchased.)
The DA has allowed the importation of 21,060 metric tons of onions
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The department said this can lead to drop the price of onion in the market to P100 to P150 per kilo.
Estoperez said they will also impose stricter border controls in the country amid the importation of onions.
The FTI earlier said it followed the computation of the cooperative which at the time had the lowest computation, according to Mariz Umali’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.
“Computation ‘yan ng supplier which is the Bonena. Siya po ang pinakamababa [It was the lowest], that’s why it was given to Bonena,” said FTI preseident and CEO Robert Tan.
The Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative earlier said that the price of onions was high due to the off-season harvest.
“Yun pong 100% na itinatanim namin, ang nagsu-survive lang ay halos mga 20% dahil nga po andito po yung time na maulan siya, eto po yung time na yung sibuyas eh susceptible po sila sa sakit, kaya po ang aming cost of production masyadong naapektuhan. Lumobo po ang aming cost of production,” said Bonena chairman Israel Reguyal.
(Of the crops we planted, only 20% survived because of the rains, because this is the time when onions are susceptible to disease, so out production costs were affected. Our production costs ballooned.)
The DA said even the farmgate price of onions is high, at P460 per kilo.
“It is disheartening, yes, in a way because you try your best to be able na hindi mo babaratin ang farmers [that you do not lowball the farmers], at the same time ay makabigay ka ng murang sibuyas sa consumers [you can give consumers inexpensive onions]. Now why is this happening? I think 'yun ang tanong [that is the question],” said DA assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista. — with Richa Noriega/KBK/BM, GMA Integrated News