Senate resumes probe on agriculture smuggling today

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee of the whole resumes today its inquiry into the unabated large-scale smuggling of agricultural products that is crippling farmers and fisherfolk while hampering the country’s economic recovery from the COVID pandemic.

The committee is resuming its probe following what Senate President Vicente Sotto III said was the panel’s receipt of additional documents and testimonies on the smuggling of vegetables, fruits and fish.

Sotto, who is running for vice president, made the announcement after he and his standard bearer, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, met last week with local officials and farmers’ groups in Nueva Ecija as part of their campaign dialogues with various sectors.

“We’ve summoned (Agriculture) Secretary (William) Dar and the people involved in importation, smuggling of vegetables. We’ve been given new evidence (of smuggling),” Sotto, chairman of the all-member panel, told reporters.

He lamented that since the enactment of Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act (Republic Act 10845), not one smuggler has been convicted despite billions of pesos worth of agricultural products seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Lacson has said the DA is “killing” farmers and fisherfolk due to its “importation mentality” and warned that smugglers, cartels and corruption have rendered laws to boost agricultural production and improve the lives of farmers useless.

“Instead of helping farmers, you’re killing them if you import,” Lacson said.

He cited the Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203) and RA 10845 as among the statutes not meeting their objectives due to poor implementation by corrupt officials allegedly in the pockets of smugglers and cartels, who make money out of importation of agricultural products.

Lacson and Sotto said their program for agriculture, if elected, is for the government to buy half of the farmers’ produce at their prices to allow them profits, eliminate middlemen, and ensure productivity and food security.

Also the tandem has proposed a “paluwagan” or rotating savings and credit system for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers and fisherfolk.

Pacquiao bucks lower tariffs on corn imports

For his part, PROMDI Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Pacquio said the government should not add more burden to farmers by planning to lower tariffs on imported corn and increase the minimum access volume (MAV or minimum quota) for the food staple.

“It is not right for the tariff on imported corn to be lowered because, again we will be flooded with corn, just like what happened in the importation of rice, which will be to the detriment of our hardworking farmers,” he told a press briefing in Santiago, Isabela.

Accompanied by Gov. Rodolfo Albano III at the Sophia Hotel in Cauayan City, Pacquiao highlighted the fact that farmers are already suffering because of the flooding of cheap imported rice and the unabated smuggling of agricultural products.

Addressing reports that President Duterte’s economic managers, including the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), are pushing to reduce the tariff for corn importation from 35 percent to five percent for in-quota imports and 15 percent for out-quota imports, the senator said “it should not be the case.”

“Our farmers, particularly here in Isabela which is a major corn producer, will be put to a very disadvantageous position. Farmers have already been complaining with palay, how much more if this will be the same thing with corn?” he asked.

“When I become President, I will make sure that those who will take advantage of our people will suffer,” he added.

Pacquiao also slammed all past administrations’ borrowing spree which led the country to its record-high P12 trillion foreign debt.

“What is happening now is that our country’s expenses are higher than its earnings because we have no more income,” he said before Go Negosyo’s “KandidaTalks” last week.

Pacquiao took advantage of his time in the forum hosted by presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion to turn the tables on his critics and more seasoned politicians in rival camps.

“They say that they are intelligent, and claim to be smarter, but why is it that not only in the past decade but in the past three or four decades, they allowed the country to spend more and earn less? Why did you let this happen? I thought you were all intelligent?” he quipped.

“If it were up to me, I would not let that happen,” he added.

Loren champions sustainability

Meanwhile, senatorial candidate and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda reminded fishefolk in Malabon and Navotas cities to practice sustainable fishing and promote safety and sustainability within their households and communities through waste segregation, recycling and upcycling.

During a visit to the two cities, she mentioned the practices in Barangay Potrero in Malabon, which is a zero-waste model community. Both Navotas and Malabon are considered fishing ports.

“We have been blessed with the bounties of the Earth, but amid this abundance, we must be mindful. The pandemic and the climate crisis pose many development challenges, but it also presents the opportunity to promote sustainable growth for our own survival and for the generations to come,” Legarda said.

“Our fisherfolk continue to face various challenges, especially with the impact of climate change, the pandemic, and stronger natural hazards. Thus, we have to continuously strengthen our coordination with them to ensure not only their livelihood but also sustain the country’s food security,” she added.

She stressed she also wants the fisherfolk to get more training and help them through entrepreneurship opportunities. She also said that there should be more investment in infrastructure, fish ports and farm-to-market roads. – Delon Porcalla