Extortion causes high food prices

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday that extortion activities by corrupt policemen preying on farmers transporting rice and other agricultural crops have forced farmers to increase prices.

“We have to stop this problem of kotong (extortion) system that victimizes our farmers transporting their produce to the markets. This is pure highway robbery,” Nograles said, as he called on law enforcement agencies to ensure that these corrupt policemen are arrested.

He issued the appeal in light of what he called “persistent complaints of widespread extortion activities” along the country’s highways. “This should be swiftly addressed because most of the victims are farmers transporting their farm products to urban centers.”

In a statement, Nograles said there is a need to eliminate or break the barrier on the flow of agricultural inputs and outputs not only through better irrigation and farm-to-market roads but also by ensuring the protection of farmers and their produce.

“If we can ensure that our farmers will be able to market their products without being harassed by corrupt policemen and traffic personnel, we can greatly reduce the cost of farm products,” he said.

“We also have to improve other logistics systems to mitigate spoilage and reduce distribution margins,” he added.

Nograles said the government should promote investments by creating a competitive business environment.

“We have to review the scorecards of the National Competitive summit which cited the need to improve processing of business permits and reduce transaction costs and flows,” he said. — With Christina Paguinto, Jose Miguel Reyes