The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have agreed to share data on traded agricultural commodities as well as unfair trade practices and imports.
The two agencies signed a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) on Thursday, Jan. 27, to ensure that local agri-fishery products remain competitive with their imported counterparts.
In a statement, the DA said that the initiative will help the agencies access valuable trade information and strengthen their coordination on various inspections and procedures to ensure food safety and collection of the right amount of customs duties, among other mutual benefits.
DA Secretary William Dar commended the move as he noted that credible and timely information "is crucial in crafting policies, especially in this digital age.”
“I have been very firm in my stand on transparency and I will do everything in my power to implement this along with our partner agencies as it is our moral duty to safeguard the welfare of our agricultural frontliners — our farmers and fisherfolk,” he added.
Meanwhile, BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero also lauded the initiative while assuring that the agency will be a trusted partner of DA in securing agricultural trade remedies are implemented based on accurate and timely data.