ROSALES, Pangasinan – The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) and 25 other agricultural groups are joining the call of the rice industry stakeholders to reject proposals to reduce or remove tariffs on rice, pork, chicken, and corn.
Businessman Rosendo So, SINAG chairman, said that Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan are not only proposing tariff reduction on rice but also on pork, chicken, and corn.
“Kaya sumama na ang ibang agri industries ng baboy, manok, mais, at iba pa, para makarating sa ating Presidente ang pagtutol ng buong industriya ng agrikultura sa pakanang tariff reduction ni Diokno at Balisacan,” So said.
So said the directive of the President is clear – strengthen and support local production, not increase importation and smuggling.
“Malinaw din ang patuloy na pagkontra ni Diokno at Balisacan sa gusto ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., kaya’t nararapat lang na sila ay matanggal na sa gabinete ng Pangulo,” So added.
He said there is no reason for tariff reduction as farmers are now harvesting palay.
"Global rice prices have nothing to do with the recent spike in rice retail prices. Sinabi na rin ng ating Presidente na dahil ito sa hoarding, profiteering, at smuggling, kaya’t inilabas ang EO 39,” So said, referring to the executive order that imposed a rice price cap.
So believes that Balisacan knows very well that any tariff reduction will have a huge impact on farmgate prices as imports will again flood the local market.
SINAG noted that even consumers will never benefit from tariff reduction because as much as 85 percent of imports are for premium grade rice that cater to relatively well-off consumers.
"Bakit ayaw nila itong sabihin? Ang mga institutional buyers at mayayaman lang ang makikinabang dito, kasama nang mga importers? Five years of reduced tariffs have not resulted to any significant decrease in rice prices,” So said.
The agricultural group said importations, more so unlimited rice importation through tariff reduction, are not and will never be the best option and is contrary to the marching order of the President to increase local production.
"Bagama’t magkakaiba ang mga position sa ibang issues, kami ay nagsasama-sama ngayon upang ipanawagan ang pagpapaalis kila Secretaries Diokno and Balisacan; at upang huwag matuloy ang pagbaba ng taripa sa bigas, baboy, manok at mais."
The groups who opposed tariff reduction are:
1. Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG)
2. Federation of Free Farmers (FFF)
3. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)
4. Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines Inc (AGAP)
5. Aniban ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)
6. United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA)
7. Pambansang Mannalon, Mag-uuma, Magbabaul, Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP)
8. National Movement for Food Sovereignty (NMFS)
9. Bantay Bigas
10. Task Force Mapalad (TFM)
11. National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc (NFHFI)
12. Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (Propork)
13. Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan)
14. Crop Protection Association of the Philippines (CPAP)
15. National Federation of Peasant Women (AMIHAN)
16. National Rice Seed Growers Federation of the Phils Inc. (PhilPalay)
17. Aqua Farmers PH
18. United Luzon Mango Stakeholders Association Inc
19. Northern and Central Luzon Coconut Farmers
20. Sustainable Agriculture Family-Centered Entreprenurial Group of Co-Creators Inc (SAFEGCC)
21. Community Legal Help and Public Interest Center
22. New Alliance of Rabbit Breeders Association (NARBA)
23. Egg Council of the Philippines (ECOP)
24. Northern Luzon Corn Growers Group
25. Sheep and Goat Industry of the Philippines
26. Association of Fertilizer and Pesticides, Distribution, Dealers and Outlet of Pangasinan (AFPDOP)