The House of Representatives' Committee on Agriculture has vowed to keep a close eye on the prices of basic staples such as rice and onions to stop them from skyrocketing due to supply shortages.

The panel's chair, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, said Sunday the commitment was in response to the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Martin Romualdez to prevent unjustifiable price increases on agricultural products.

The Philippines has experienced shortages of agricultural products since last year, including onions, which saw prices reaching as high as P700 per kilo.

"To make food products affordable, we will observe and address food inflation," Enverga said, adding that the committee will conduct public hearings, inquiries, and consultations with stakeholders.

The panel spearheaded a months-long probe on the sudden scarcity of agricultural commodities blamed on hoarding and price manipulation by supply cartels. The congressional inquiry led to a drastic drop in onion prices, from P700 to P160 per kilo.

It also paved the way for the filing of charges by the National Bureau of Investigation against three officials of the Department of Agriculture, namely, Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service officer-in-charge Junibert de Sagun, and Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Panganiban.

The three were allegedly involved in the agency's P140 million procurement of onions last year from the Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative at P537 per kilo, which triggered the price increase last year. Bonena officials Israel Reguyal, Mary Ann dela Rosa, and Victor dela Rosa Jimenez were also charged.

According to Enverga, the panel will continue conducting inquiries if necessary and "will not be intimidated by pressure from any source."

Pursuant to Mr. Marcos' and the Speaker's directives, the panel reopened its motu proprio (probe) in August in the wake of the reported inadequacy of the country's rice supply and the impending rice crisis.

Executive Order 39, which capped the price of regularly milled rice at P41 and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo, was imposed to immediately reduce the cost of the staple grain and consequently discourage hoarding, further decreasing its price.

However, Mr. Marcos lifted the price cap a day before the imposition marked its first month.