Pangilinan calls for tougher action against hoarders as El Niño looms

MANILA — Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Monday pressed the government to escalate its crackdown on hoarders, profiteers, and market cartels as the Philippines anticipates significant impacts from a strengthening El Niño on agricultural production and consumer prices.

Pangilinan called on the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture to coordinate more aggressively in monitoring market activities and preventing artificial price increases. The senator's appeal comes as meteorologists warn of extended dry conditions that could reduce crop yields and tighten food supplies in the coming months.

The intensifying El Niño phenomenon typically triggers shortages of staple commodities and can fuel inflation, particularly affecting lower-income Filipino families. Government agencies have been tasked with implementing preventive measures to stabilize prices and ensure adequate supply during the critical period.

Pangilinan emphasized that strict enforcement mechanisms are essential to deter unscrupulous traders from exploiting supply constraints. His call underscores growing concerns among policymakers about potential price volatility in basic commodities as weather-related production challenges mount across the agricultural sector.