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The House of Representatives has passed a resolution allowing five key committees to jointly investigate smuggling and price manipulation of essential commodities
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House Resolution No. 2036 authorizes five key committees—Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and the Special Committee on Food Security – to conduct a joint inquiry on the issues
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The ‘Quinta Comm’ will focus on legislation that addresses illegal activities and ensures food security
The House of Representatives approved a resolution allowing five key committees to jointly investigate smuggling and price manipulation of essential commodities.
House Resolution No. 2036, approved on Sept. 25, authorizes the committees on Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and the Special Committee on Food Security — dubbed as “Quinta Comm” – to hold a joint inquiry into these issues.
Led by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, the joint panel will focus on legislation that addresses illegal activities and ensures food security.
Their goal is to introduce amendments or propose “measures relating to the implementation of government programs to address smuggling and price manipulation of basic goods and essential commodities, mitigate hunger, and promote food and nutrition security.”
It has also been tasked with investigating consumer rights violations based on House resolutions and privilege speeches referred to in the panels. This joint probe will also initiate its own inquiries into reported violations affecting consumers.
The resolution emphasizes the government’s responsibility to ensure that essential goods and services are affordable, invoking Article 13, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. It also references the Philippines’ commitment to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which encourages efficient resource utilization for food security.
“During these inquiries, it is apparent that one committee cannot individually tackle the measures covering zero hunger and food security without encroaching with the jurisdiction of the other committees,” the House resolution read.
The House leadership expects a comprehensive report with recommendations for legislative solutions to emerge from this joint inquiry.
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