‘More funds needed for NFA’s stockpile’

MALOLOS, Philippines —  Now that the National Food Authority (NFA)’s palay-buying price has been raised, the agency should be provided a bigger procurement fund for its stockpiling program, according to farmer groups.

An official of the Federation of Central Luzon Cooperatives said that with the increase in the NFA’s palay procurement price, the agency’s budgetary requirement should also be raised so that it can sustain if not increase its palay stockpile target.

Simeon Sioson, chairman of the 4SM Multipurpose Cooperative in San Miguel, Bulacan, pointed out that if the NFA’s palay procurement budget is not raised, then the volume of palay that is targeted for its stockpiling will result in lesser volume compared to its original target.

On the other hand, Raul Montemayor, national chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers, explained in a text message that the NFA’s current P9-billion budget could procure around 390,000 metric tons or 7.8 million bags of palay.

Montemayor added this is only equivalent to two percent of the country’s total production of palay in a year, which is “a bit small and needs more funding by the NFA.”

The NFA Council on Monday raised the buying price of clean and dry palay to P23 and P16-P19 per kilo of fresh palay.

At present, the NFA’s scarce number of palay driers will limit its capabilities in procuring fresh palay from farmers, according to Montemayor.

He also explained that if the buying price of palay traders is much higher compared to the government’s palay support price, there is a big possibility that farmers would sell their produce to private palay traders rather than to the NFA.

He added that perhaps the NFA should add incentives in its palay procurement program, like free fertilizers for every 50 cavans of palay delivered by the farmer to the NFA.

On the bright side, palay prices are expected to go down as the peak palay harvest season begins and farmers are assured that their produce will not be bought at less than P23 per kilo because of the P23-per-kilo government-support price for palay by the NFA.

File charges

Raids may have scared unscrupulous traders, but authorities should go the extra mile by making sure a maximum deterrent effect will be achieved – through indictments.

“I congratulate the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other concerned agencies for a job well done. But they should not stop at confiscating rice and other products smuggled into the country. These offices should file charges against the smugglers immediately,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

“Unless the culprits are jailed or otherwise punished, they would continue doing their illegal activities, even if some of their smuggled products end up being seized,” Romualdez added.

The leader of the House of Representatives nonetheless expressed support for President Marcos’ decision to distribute confiscated smuggled rice to thousands of poor residents of the Zamboanga peninsula.

“We firmly stand with President Marcos Jr. in his initiative to distribute premium quality rice to the 4Ps beneficiaries,” Romualdez said.

“This significant gesture demonstrates more than just an act of generosity; it underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing the needs of our people, especially during challenging times,” he added.

Another administration lawmaker, Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr., a member of the House committee on agriculture and food, said Marcos’ decision to give away smuggled and hoarded rice to poor families was hailed as the “best deterrent” against smuggling.

“The President’s action sent the strong signal that there should be no revolving door for smuggled rice in the government. By giving them to the people, it has been placed beyond the reach of those who have illegally brought them in,” Pleyto added.

The first-term legislator said the President’s decision would mean “confiscated smuggled rice can no longer be rescued by bribes.”

Marcos has already instructed the BOC to run after smugglers and bust their illegal operations.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan lauded the Chief Executive for having “outsmarted smugglers” and “taught them an expensive lesson” by distributing smuggled rice the government has confiscated to poor families in Zamboanga.

“The President has given smugglers and hoarders a bitter, expensive lesson where it would hurt them the most – their pockets. By his single strong-minded act, the President has helped farmers and poor families and punished those that have made life difficult for them,” Yamsuan said.

Amendments

Meanwhile, the House committee on agriculture and food approved yesterday proposed amendments to Republic Act 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, which aims to expand the scope of products that will be covered by the law.

“Our goal is to make sure there will be conviction and final judgment on smuggling cases. As highlighted by our resource persons, the sad reality is that no one has been convicted of smuggling,” panel chairman Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga said.

Enverga emphasized that there are many salient features of the substitute bill, saying the “major thrusts are the expansion of the coverage of the current law to include other products that are often being smuggled and hoarded.”

“This is because the reality on the ground is that rice and onions are not the only produce being smuggled and hoarded. There are also provisions on business records, harmonizing with other related laws and raising the penalties,” he said.

“I am in agreement in principle on the suggested refinements to make law enforcement and prosecution easier so that there will be smuggling cases that lead to conviction and final judgment,” he added.

The measure is one of the priorities set by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council endorsed by the Marcos administration.

A related but separate bill on agricultural smuggling, House Bill 3917 authored by the President’s lawmaker-son Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Migs Nograles, hurdled third reading in December last year and is now at the Senate.

It has been referred to the technical working group of two Senate committees: agriculture, food and agrarian reform, and justice and human rights.

The measure’s distinction from the others is that it holds tobacco smugglers criminally liable for the non-bailable offense of economic sabotage.

The bill aims to amend RA 10845, which former president Rodrigo Duterte signed and which penalizes unlawful importation of tobacco, both in raw and finished products.

The difference of the Duterte-signed law from HB 3917 is that the offense can now be categorized as “economic sabotage,” which carries no bail for those who will be indicted. – Delon Porcalla