Biazon questions 1-way agri accord with US

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Sen. Rodolfo Biazon wants Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople and Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo to explain what he called a "one-way agricultural agreement" with US that is very disadvantageous to the country.

This agreement, signed by Ople and US Secretary of State Colin Powell, covers the "financing of export of American agricultural products to the Philippines" and nothing else.

"Why is there a one-way mention of movement of agricultural products from America to the Philippines and there is no discussion of movement of Philippine agricultural products to the United States?" Biazon, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, asked.

According to him, the agreement was signed during the recent state visit of President Arroyo to the US.

Once Congress resumes its session late this month, Biazon said he will file a resolution calling for a Senate investigation into this particular agreement to compel Ople and Lorenzo to explain what this [agreement] is all about.

Presently, the Philippines is the largest market for American agricultural products in Asia. In 2001, the Philippines imported some $846 million worth of American agricultural products, such as wheat, chicken, and other foodstuff and farm produce.

But this importation was cut to $600 million this year due to problems on terrorism and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Despite the reduced importation, the Philippines "still is the biggest market for American agricultural products in Asia."

"Now, what will happen to us if this agreement is again put into effect?" Biazon asked.

The flood of cheap imported agricultural products in the country, brought about by globalization through the General Agreements on Tariff and Trade-World Trade Organization (GATT-WTO) and the Philippines’ lack of safety measures to protect its farmers, has resulted to the loss of income of Filipino farmers, Biazon said.

Imported cheap agricultural products are underpricing local produce. Imported American chickens are being sold at P65 per kilo while locally grown chickens are being sold at P85 per kilo. "We need to examine the impact of globalization. Are we competitive in agriculture?" he said.

Biazon also accused the United States of violating the GATT-WTO when it slapped 35-percent tariff on imported steel, exempting Mexico and Canada to protect its steel industries. But on the other hand, America slapped a 12-percent tariff on Philippine tuna, exempting the countries of Chile and Peru, which in the end will kill our tuna industry, Biazon said.

He stressed that government must now put in place safety nets to "prevent us from being overwhelmed through the globalization of the economy of the world."

"I am asking the DA, NEDA, DTI to work together and put together a negotiating bargaining position that will be presented sometime September in Cancun, Mexico because if we do not move, we are going to be killed!" he warned.