SA pagdagsa ng imported agricultural products sa lokal na merkado, muling nanawagan si Sen. Cynthia A. Villar na protektahan ang ating mga magsasaka at kasuhan ang lahat na sangkot sa walang habas na smuggling.
Suportado ni Villar ang hinaing ng mga Pilipinong magsasaka na kasuhan ang agricultural smugglers, kabilang ang big-time government personalities na nanatiling “untouchables.”
Nais ng chairperson ng Senate committee on agriculture and food na mahigpit na ipatupad ang Republic Act No. 10845 o ang Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 inakda nila ni dating Sen. Jose Victor Ejercito.
Nagpapataw ito ng mas mataas na parusa para magsilbing babala sa smuggling activities. Aniya, mahaharap sila sa life imprisonment at dobleng multa at iba pang bayarin gaya ng taripa.”The law also intends to protect and promote the productivity of the agriculture sector and the farmers from corrupt traders and importers linked to the the perennial problem of smuggling in the agriculture sector,” ayon kay Villar.
Binanggit din niya ang polisiya ng estado na isulong at pangalagaan ang agriculture sector.
Aniya, masama ang epekto ng illegal importation ng agricultural products sa production ng food supply at kanilang presyo. Nanganganib din ang ating seguridad sa pagkain.
“This problem of rampant smuggling also continues to undermine the country’s ability to food self-sufficiency,” ayon kay Villar.
“The ‘never-ending’ entry of smuggled products in our market effectively manipulates the prices of agricultural products by lowering them down, and adversely affects the income and livelihood of food producers especially our farmers who belong to the country’s poorest sector,” dagdag pa niya.
Dahil sa kulang ang satisfactory return on investments, dismayado si Villar na humihinto ang food producers sa kanilang produksiyon.
“They cannot compete with the low costs of smuggled agricultural products like pork, chicken, fish, and vegetables such as garlic, onions and carrots and other vegetable imports from China.”
“This will eventually lead to the demise of our local agricultural industries, and hence, sabotage our economy,” giit pa ni Villar. Kailangan ding parusahan ang economic saboteurs.
Sa nakalipas na Senate hearing sa agricultural smuggling, sinabi ng League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas na nawawalan sila ng P2.5 milyon kada araw sa kita sa carrot sanhi ng smuggling ng mga gulay. VICKY CERVALES