At the hearing, the Senate committee chairman, Senator Villar Cynthia of agriculture and Food Industry Bureau questioned the plant (BPI) officials, belonging to the monopoly interests group to determine why the Justice Department will report in 2014 the garlic importer, they still appear in the Plant Industry Bureau certification importer List.
The report was released in 2014 after the Senate conducted a survey of garlic monopoly interests, although prices were still doubled, to 300 pesos, despite the shortage of garlic supplies
The report by the Justice Department's competition Office (OFC) also describes the way the monopoly interests work, indicating that the group controls 75% of the garlic supply in Philippines
The list lists 55 garlic importers allegedly operated by 4 members of the group, 4 members, one of whom is the leader of the onion and garlic monopoly interest group, Leah cruz.
The report pointed out that there are 24 importers belong to Cruz, 5 of them in the past 3 years to obtain import license, Villar said. These importers were Philippine vieva bee Jee group company, trade company, vieva company, purple company and RM Galvez moon trade company.
Secretary George ortha II, Assistant Minister of justice, told the Committee yesterday that the Commission's final investigation committee had forwarded the findings of the 2014 survey to the National Bureau of investigation for further investigation
(source: global fruit and vegetable nets) [original title: Philippines: Ministry of agriculture will issue a temporary ban on 55 garlic importers]
