Benguet, Philippines – The provincial government of Benguet puts up a fight against possible illegal importation of vegetables by reaching out to the Bureau of Customs and Department of Agriculture to guard such an occurrence.
Benguet LGU through Governor Melchor Diclas explained through PTV Cordillera that the action is to resolve the concerns raised by the farmers and to avoid their previous situation from happening again, where the local vegetables were wasted due to illegal vegetable importation.
In October last year, farmers in the Cordillera, especially in Benguet, sounded the alarm about smuggled vegetables which affected prices of locally grown produce.
In an earlier report by the FFTC Agricultural Policy Platform, it was said that vegetable smuggling from China has been going on since 2007.
Benguet worried about livelihood of farmers
As one of the top vegetable producers in the country, Benguet worries that the livelihood of its farmers will be heavily affected in case the illegal importation occurs, especially now that the smuggled carrots are all over Cebu market.
Diclas assured the farmers that they are doing their best to find solutions to the problem, adding that individuals concerned with the illegal importation shall be apprehended.
Meanwhile, the governor appealed to the public not to make use of the issue for the upcoming election; instead, cooperate for the benefit of the farmers.
“Magsama-sama, hindi ito yung time na maghiwa-hiwalay tayo. Sama-sama tayo, mag-cooperate, mag-coordinate tayo, lahat-lahat na mga kababayan nating farmers para magawan nating ng mas magandang solusyon kasi pag ka ngayon pa na merong ganito tapos nagsisiraan tayo, naghihiwa-hiwalay para ma-ano yung credit sa atin, ay hindi na tama yun,” Diclas said.
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