(Sa ilalim ni Recto) REVENUE TATAAS, SMUGGLING MABABAWASAN

PABOR ang Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) sa napipintong kumpirmasyon ni Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto.

“It is high time that the DOF will be headed by someone who is not only competent in the field of finance and economics; but more who had deep understanding of the agriculture sector,” sabi ni SINAG Chair Rosendo So.

Matagal nakatrabaho ng mga local producer si Recto mula noong panahon na nahalal siya bilang kinatawan ng 4th District ng Batangas noong 1996 at bilang three-term senator mula 2001-2007 at 2010 hanggang 2022.

Si Recto ay pangunahing kaalyado sa pagsabatas ng Rice Tariffication Law at paglantad ng mga problema ng agricultural smuggling at iba pang ilegal na kalakalan na nakaaapekto sa pag-unlad ng sektor ng agrikultura.

“We are confident that the narrative of further tariff reduction of agri commodities will be reversed under the leadership of Secretary Recto,” ayon kay So.

Bilang Secretary of Finance, na nangangasiwa sa Bureau of Customs (BOC), nakatuon si Recto na tapusin ang talamak na praktis ng ‘undervaluation’ at ‘misdeclaration’ ng agricultural imports na nagkait sa gobyerno ng kinakailangang kita o revenue.

“Naniniwala tayo na ‘di tulad ng mga dating kalihim ng DOF, papanig si Secretary Recto sa kapakanan ng mga magsasaka,” pagpapatuloy ni So.

Sinusuportahan din ni Recto ang pagtatayo ng kauna-unahang Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (CEFA), isang state-of-the-art examination facility sa Angat, Bulacan.

“CEFA is crucial in our efforts in strengthening our first border inspections capabilities that will lessen, if not totally eradicate, agricultural smuggling. We are looking forward in finally working with the DOF, thru the leadership of Secretary Ralph Recto,” sabi ng grupo.

VICKY CERVALES