If she wins the presidency in May 2022, Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, Jan. 31, said she will change the importation mindset and do so only when there is an actual shortage of products essential to Filipinos.
This is possible if the country strengthens its domestic production, Robredo told DZBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba: The Presidential Interviews.”
“Kailangan talaga natin i-strengthen iyong (We need to strengthen) domestic production kasi dapat nag-iimport lang tayo kung meron (because we should only be importing when there is a) shortage. Pero kung wala namang (But if there’s no) shortage, dapat hindi natin (our) mindset iyong (should not be) importation,” she said.
The aspiring president noted that the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federation already released a statement about the government’s plan to import galunggong (round scad) when there is no shortage of the said type of fish.
In fact, the alliance said that there are still 20,000 metric tons of galunggong in cold storage, and that the importation will affect more than 370,000 people.
READ: Lawmakers question DA’s decision to import 60,000 tons of fish
The first step in addressing the problems in domestic production is to rehabilitate typhoon-affected areas faster.
“Mayroon na naka-earmark (There’s a earmarked) for the rehabilitation of agriculture at isama na ito para makasama na iyong kailangan i-rehabilitate, i-rehabilitate na (and include this so what needs to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated) at the soonest possible time,” Robredo, the opposition leader, explained.
She will also push for the creation of programs that will provide fuel subsidy to fisherfolk, smart intervention, and access to capital.
A visit to Basilan last week revealed that the fisherfolk’s main concern is that 80 percent of their expenses go to crude oil.