Lawmaker Calls for Congressional Inquiry into Soaring Tomato Prices

In a move to address the skyrocketing cost of tomatoes, Agri Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee has initiated a call for a congressional investigation. On January 8, 2025, Lee introduced House Resolution No. 2158, urging a detailed examination into the reasons behind the dramatic increase in tomato prices, which have spiked to as much as PHP360 per kilogram in certain regions. The resolution, made public the following day, aims to uncover any illegal activities such as price manipulation, hoarding, and cartel operations that might be fueling what Lee refers to as an ‘artificial tomato crisis.’ While acknowledging that weather-related issues and production difficulties could be contributing factors, Lee is particularly concerned about the potential involvement of price manipulators, hoarders, and smugglers in driving up prices artificially. He emphasized the necessity for a thorough legislative inquiry to explore not only these illegal practices but also systemic inefficiencies in the agricultural and market supply chains. Lee stressed the urgent need for government intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of these price hikes on both consumers and the broader economy. He advocated for stronger enforcement of existing laws to safeguard consumers and support Filipino farmers. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has indicated that tomato prices might stabilize by late January or early February, attributing the current surge to typhoon-related damage to solanaceous crops in areas such as Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and Bicol in 2024.