House to take steps聽on vegetable prices
黑料社 photo
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday assured that the House of Representatives would focus on measures to make vegetable prices affordable, reiterating the importance of investing in farm infrastructure to minimize postharvest losses and stabilize supplies.
The Leyte lawmaker underscored the importance of ensuring locally produced vegetables reach markets efficiently to lessen dependence on imports.
The head of the 300-member chamber said in Filipino, “We shouldn’t only focus on rice but also on vegetables,” adding, “We need to make sure that every Filipino has sufficient affordable and nutritious food on the table.”
Romualdez noted a volatility in vegetable prices that places additional strain on household budgets, especially for low-income families who rely on vegetables as a major part of their diet.
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Article continues after this advertisementHe identified the root causes of high vegetable prices, including poor agricultural infrastructure, inefficient farm-to-market transport, and the lack of postharvest facilities.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the Speaker investing in agricultural infrastructure was key to reducing vegetable prices, citing ongoing efforts by the Department of Agriculture to improve farm-to-market roads and storage facilities, which could help minimize postharvest losses and stabilize supplies.
Romualdez further stressed the importance of reducing the country’s dependence on imported farm products, saying in Filipino, “We need to strengthen our own produce. If imported vegetables would flood the market, how would our farmers fare? The solution is not importation, but boosting our own production.”
He also pushed for greater investment in modernizing farming techniques and farmer support, including expanded access to high-quality seeds, fertilizer subsidies and financial assistance, to enhance local vegetable yield.
