‘Quinta comm’ to probe smuggling, price manipulation

MANILA, Philippines —  The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution allowing five of its committees to conduct a “joint inquiry” for purposes of introducing an amendment to the law or come up with a new legislation that would help thwart massive smuggling and price manipulation, among many others.

Administration and opposition lawmakers approved last Sept. 25, the last day of plenary sessions in Congress, House Resolution 2036, giving five inter-related committees the
 go-signal to start investigating reports of unscrupulous businessmen preying on innocent and helpless consumers.

As per announcement of Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, his House committee on ways and means will now be holding joint probes with the House committees on trade and industry, agriculture and food, social services and special committee on food security – now dubbed as the “Quinta Comm.”

Its specific mandate is to investigate in aid of legislation and 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.”

The quinta comm was tasked to hold the probe relative to House resolutions and privilege speeches of its members that have been referred to the panels for purposes of investigating even on its own initiative reports of violations to consumers in general. 
Salceda’s panel will be the “lead committee” in the quinta committee.

In approving HR 2036, lawmakers invoked Article 13 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that the State shall endeavor to “make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.”

It stated that this is in light of the Filipino’s “fundamental right to be free from hunger” and where the Philippines has been a “signatory” to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Member-countries to this pact have vowed to “take measures to improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources.”

“During these inquiries, it is apparent that one