Bureau of Plant Industry head fears for his life

Finally, a ray of hope for local onion farmers.

Sen. Ralph Recto has just asked for a Senate probe into the flooding into the local market of Chinese red and yellow onions at a time when Philippine production is at its peak.

According to Recto, for onion growers in the area, Central and Northern Luzon have become one "big valley of tears," as imported onion continue to flood the market, driving farmgate prices of local onions down.

About 312 shipping vans of onions have so far arrived this year, of which only 158 were covered by import permits issued by the Department of Agriculture. Last month, 154 containers landed in port of Manila, but these were not covered by import permits prompting the Bureau of Plant Industry to ask Customs officials to hold the shipment.

Onion farmers are now asking government to burn the seized 500,000 kilos of yellow onions to teach smugglers a lesson, an option allowed under Customs laws. The good senator is even suggesting that President Arroyo lit the bonfire to send the signal that this government has a "zero-tolerance policy" on smuggling.

But how true is it that the head of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is now in hiding and fearing for his life?

According to reports reaching Hidden Agenda, the importers paid some people at the Department of Agriculture and BPI about P3 million or P1 per kilo for the first batch of 60 import permits good for 12 container vans. After the onions came in, the importers wanted to secure the licenses for the second batch of importations. After reportedly paying P1.95 million again to some people in the bureaucracy, they were assured of the release of the 78 new import permits. With money given and the certainty of import permits, the brokers gave the go signal to Hong Kong to load and ship out the initial 123 reefer container vans with the balance of 31 vans on the next voyage as the vessels cannot accommodate all the 154 vans.

This time, however, the BPI director did not want to sign the import permits, despite pressures being exerted on him as the shipment started to arrive and after the money was already delivered, due to concerns about the possible entry of new pests into the country.

All these 142 (40 footer) reefer containers and 12 (20 footer) reefer containers are now rotting inside the Customs zone under quarantine restrictions with Customs Commissioner Bernardo and NACTAF head Sec. Angelo Reyes informed of this massive smuggling attempt. The BPI director is now hiding for fear of his life and has not reported for work over a week now.

Medicines That Don’t Work

How true is it that P250 million worth of drugs and pharmaceuticals in the logistics base of one of the country’s biggest pharmaceutical companies were spoiled after its cold storage facility broke down?

Compounding the situation was that this giant pharmaceutical firm did not inform their principals (the drug companies) of what happened and worse, continued to distribute the spoiled drugs according to the order patterns of these drug companies.

However, after many complaints were made by doctors and customers/patients alike, the drug companies are now finally aware of what truly happened and are asking for no less than the head of the CEO.

The Philippines has not only become a favorite dumping ground for first world countries’ used goods, but spoiled medicines and drugs as well.

Making The Rounds

A mestiza minor government official has very recently been making the rounds of provincial governors to push for her appointment as the new chairperson of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

She has reportedly been making promises to the esteemed governors like there is no tomorrow.

It’s a good thing that the provincial governors are aware that all she knows is "aerobics". In order to beef up her credentials, she has been spreading word that she is also an expert in sports and an authority in air treaty rights.

However, it is a known fact in the air transport industry that the only "expertise" she can claim is her trying to get air operating permits for a Middle East airline. Talk about expertise!

For comments, e-mail at [email protected]