Stop smuggling of veggies — solon
A neophyte solon called on the intervention of the national government to address the reported smuggled vegetables.
Rizal Representative Fidel Nograles made the call following reports that smuggled vegetables are flooding the National Capital Region (NCR); Cebu; and Cagayan de Oro.
Local farmers are complaining on the flooding of the smuggled vegetables that were sold at cheaper price, according to Nograles.
The solon asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to act on this illegal activities that add burden to the farmers.
“We should be alarmed with all these reports. Our farmers are still reeling from the effects of low demand due the pandemic-related economic slowdown, and then unfair competition suddenly slaps them,” Nograles said.
“This is too much for Philippine agriculture and we are hoping that the Department of Agriculture will act swiftly,” he added.
Vegetable dealers from Benguet said that demand for carrots dwindled and farm gate prices decreased due to the proliferation of cheap smuggled carrots.
Farmers are wary that rumors are circulating that smuggled broccoli and cauliflower will be the next ones to flood local markets.
Nograles warns that if not solved immediately, this will cause tons of local produce to rot.
“We call on the DA not to let this happen. Our farmers have already tried to compete with the smuggled goods by lowering their margins but they can only do so much. The solution lies in how fast the government will be able to help them by stopping the influx of unfair competition,” he said.
