Moves to curb veggie imports on

To curb importations, the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board and the Organization of Imported Vegetables Inc. recently signed a memorandum of understanding which calls for mutual cooperation for the full development and strengthening of the local vegetable industry.

In a statement, Blo Umpar Adiong, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), said a committee has been formed to monitor the accuracy of vegetable imports vis-a-vis the local supply.

Adiong said importation is necessary when local producers cannot produce quality vegetables for high-end markets.

For instance, he said potatoes for processing into chips and fries cannot be produced in any part of the country.

For their part, vegetable producers have agreed to consistently supply high-quality and competitively priced produce to the local market, and to locally source their supplies without resorting to importation.

The importers, on the other hand, must not import iceberg and romaine/cos lettuce and other prohibited vegetables in raw or processed forms. Importers caught violating the understanding will be dealt with accordingly.