DA still probing execs’ ‘involvement’ in vegetable smuggling

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to look for information on officials allegedly involved in the smuggling of agriculural products from China.

During a Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the agency continues to investigate claims that there are DA officials involved in vegetable smuggling.

Dar expressed hope that people who collaborated with these erring DA officials would provide them information.

“If they are found guilty, we will recommend filing of proper charges according to the law,” Dar said in Filipino.

He said once the DA finds out the identities of these officials, they would be recommended for suspension.

Dar said he is hoping these officials would feel guilty for their actions, noting the local vegetable industry is suffering.

At a Senate hearing on Monday, vegetable farmers in Benguet said they continue to be affected by the influx of smuggled carrots.

Agot Balanoy, public relations officer of the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas, said that carrot farmers in the province have been seeing declines in the number of orders.

“Starting last year, the decline of our orders from different key markets declined by 20 to 40 percent,” Balanoy said.

She said that last year, they saw a 20 percent decline in orders and this year it increased to 40 percent.

Balanoy said the volume of smuggled carrots in the country has also doubled.

“The monetary value of this on average is equivalent to P2.5 million per day, which is a loss on the part of the farmers,” she said.

Balanoy said a lot of consumers are choosing imported carrots since these can be stored for up to two months compared to locally produced carrots, which can only be kept for two to three days.

With the lower volume of orders, Balanoy said that farmers sell their produce at lower prices. Some were forced to dump or give the carrots away if they fail to sell.

During the same hearing, senators claimed that highly placed personalities in government were said to be pushing or allowing the importation of vegetable products from China.

Dar said the DA would reprimand officials and staff found to be involved in vegetable smuggling.

“As the Secretary of Agriculture, I condemn the smuggling and illegal entry of all agricultural, fishery and meat products into the country as these deprive our local farmers, fishers and food producers of livelihood and income,” Dar said earlier.

He said smuggled products might carry trans-boundary pests and diseases that could harm the local agriculture, fishery and animal industries and even human health.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) vowed to strengthen its presence in public markets to strengthen the government’s fight against smuggling of agricultural products.

BOC spokesman Vincent Philip Maronilla said they are coordinating with the DA to be able to identify illegally imported products.

Maronilla said that part of their monitoring is to check the documents of the vendors to determine if they are selling illegal agricultural products.

He said the BOC would continue with its operation against illegal importation of agricultural products after the Benguet vegetable traders complained that they are losing a lot of money due to smuggling. – Robertzon Ramirez, Cecille Suerte Felipe