Senator Francis Pangilinan is calling for an investigation into the use of cold storage following concerns raised by the agriculture sector on limited access to such facilities.

Pangilinan, in a news release on Tuesday, said there were reports that imported goods were crowding out local produce and affecting farmers’ ability to store their harvest, potentially increasing post-harvest losses.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, which Pangilinan chairs, will call cold storage operators and traders to a hearing to address the issue.

Cold storage facilities are critical in preserving produce, helping stabilize food supply and prices, but farmers have reported high fees and alleged preferential treatment for large traders and importers, Pangilinan said.

“So isa ‘yan, sa susunod na hearing natin, ipapatawag natin lahat ng cold storage operators pati mga trader. Mukhang pinipuwera, sinasadyang hindi bigyan ng cold storage ‘yung ating mga magsisibuyas para ibenta nang palugi dito sa mga trader na ito. Kaya bubusisiin natin ‘yan (That is one of the issues we will tackle in the next hearing. We will summon all cold storage operators and traders. It appears that onion farmers are being excluded and deliberately denied access to cold storage, so they are forced to sell at a loss to these traders. We will investigate this),” the senator said in a radio interview.

He noted that onions can last up to six to nine months when properly stored, but spoil quickly without adequate storage, making access to such facilities essential for farmers.

Pangilinan also raised concern over continued onion importation during the harvest season, warning that such practices, combined with restricted storage access, could disadvantage local producers.

“We are warning you. ‘Wag niyo kaming paikutin dito at kayo mismo sasampahan namin ng kaso na agri-economic sabotage kapag nakita ang ebidensya (Do not mislead us because we will file cases of agricultural economic sabotage if evidence is found),” he said. (PNA)