Arroyo urged to certify anti-smuggling bill
The price of meat may reach P200 per kilo or more if the government will not act on the rampant smuggling of pork and other agricultural products in the country.
Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP) issued the warning in a statement Tuesday as he lambasted the failure of concerned government agencies to curb the rampant smuggling of agricultural products such as pork and chicken.
Briones noted that farmgate price of pork in May 2007 was pegged at P70 per kilo, but the production cost was at P80 per kilo for backyard and P85 per kilo for commercial.
“Many backyard hog and poultry raisers, including big hog and chicken raiser companies, who contribute a large part of swine and chicken supply in the market, have shifted to other business due to the plummeting of farmgate prices at levels below production costs," Briones said.
Briones asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to certify as urgent his bill (HB 3115) and HB 15 filed by Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, which will establish preventive measures by providing clearer and more transparent rules for importation.
He added that the bills aim to strengthen the role of private sector in the prevention of the same.
"Toleration of rampant smuggling creates a never ending cycle of economic digress as it creates an over-supply of cheap agricultural products, thereby decreasing the price of agricultural commodities which will incur losses to farmers. Once the local farmers cease to operate, there shall be shortage, hence an increase in prices of agricultural commodities thereby encouraging smuggling again," Briones said.
"The passage of HB 15 will confront the perennial problem on smuggling and technical smuggling because it establishes preventive measures by providing clearer and more transparent rules for importation and strengthening the role of private sector in the prevention of smuggling," the lawmaker added.
Briones noted that due to alleged widespread smuggling of imported chicken, pork, fish and vegetables in several ports in the country such as the Clark, Subic, North and South Harbors in Manila, Cebu and Batangas, concerned local industries are adversely affected with their produce being sold at a very low price.
Rice and vegetable farmers are likewise cutting down on their production while others have already diversified due to smuggling, losses and inadequate support from the government, Briones said. - GMANews.TV
Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP) issued the warning in a statement Tuesday as he lambasted the failure of concerned government agencies to curb the rampant smuggling of agricultural products such as pork and chicken.
Briones noted that farmgate price of pork in May 2007 was pegged at P70 per kilo, but the production cost was at P80 per kilo for backyard and P85 per kilo for commercial.
“Many backyard hog and poultry raisers, including big hog and chicken raiser companies, who contribute a large part of swine and chicken supply in the market, have shifted to other business due to the plummeting of farmgate prices at levels below production costs," Briones said.
Briones asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to certify as urgent his bill (HB 3115) and HB 15 filed by Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, which will establish preventive measures by providing clearer and more transparent rules for importation.
He added that the bills aim to strengthen the role of private sector in the prevention of the same.
"Toleration of rampant smuggling creates a never ending cycle of economic digress as it creates an over-supply of cheap agricultural products, thereby decreasing the price of agricultural commodities which will incur losses to farmers. Once the local farmers cease to operate, there shall be shortage, hence an increase in prices of agricultural commodities thereby encouraging smuggling again," Briones said.
"The passage of HB 15 will confront the perennial problem on smuggling and technical smuggling because it establishes preventive measures by providing clearer and more transparent rules for importation and strengthening the role of private sector in the prevention of smuggling," the lawmaker added.
Briones noted that due to alleged widespread smuggling of imported chicken, pork, fish and vegetables in several ports in the country such as the Clark, Subic, North and South Harbors in Manila, Cebu and Batangas, concerned local industries are adversely affected with their produce being sold at a very low price.
Rice and vegetable farmers are likewise cutting down on their production while others have already diversified due to smuggling, losses and inadequate support from the government, Briones said. - GMANews.TV
Labels: smuggling, subic bay freeport
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